I don’t know about you, but Holi always brings back that one memory from my childhood. The whole house smelled of gulaal, water balloons everywhere, cousins running mad, and my nani shouting from the kitchen—“Bas ab aa jao, thandai ready hai!” For us kids, Holi wasn’t complete until we got that cold glass of thandai, full of dry fruits and that sweet, cooling taste that you can’t forget.
These days life is so fast, na?
Earlier, nani would grind all the spices and nuts herself, but honestly, who has that kind of time now? making thandai from scratch feels like a luxury. Just mix it in cold milk, and bas, Holi vibes without waiting for March.
Actually, forget Holi—sometimes after a long hot day in Delhi, I just make myself a quick thandai drink mix in the evening. While others are grabbing colas, I feel so good sipping something that connects me to family memories but is also so cooling for the body.
My little trick is to keep the milk mix powder ready in the fridge. When guests suddenly drop by—like they always do in Indian homes—I just stir it in and serve, and everyone thinks I’ve made something “special.”
Last week, my cousin from Bangalore was visiting. He’s into all these fancy protein shakes. I teased him,
“Tu imported shakes peeta hai, aur hum yahan ghar ki thandai bhool gaye?” He laughed but after tasting, he legit asked me where to buy thandai online because he wanted to take some back. That’s the thing—sometimes we run behind everything new and modern, but these simple traditional drinks remind us of home in a way nothing else can.Even you can buy from Aap Ka Bazar…..
And honestly, thandai isn’t just about taste. Remember how our dadi–nanis always said it keeps the body cool? Specially when loo winds start blowing in May. I have noticed it myself after having thandai, you feel lighter, your mood relaxes. Maybe it’s the saffron, maybe it’s the almonds, or maybe just the nostalgia thing. But it totally works.
Nowadays, brands have made it so easy. Good quality mixes are available online, and they don’t taste “artificial” like we sometimes fear. I usually order before Holi, but this year I think I’ll keep it stocked throughout summer. Because why wait for one festival when you can enjoy that same comfort on any random Tuesday evening?
So yeah, that’s my little gyaan for today. Next time you’re tired after office, instead of going for a cold drink, try making yourself a quick thandai. Put on some old Bollywood songs,
sit with your family, and sip slowly. Small moments like these… they feel ordinary, but later you realise, these are the ones that become your sweetest memories.
