10 Holi Special Dishes for a Colorful Feast

2. Thandai (non-bhang) — Cooling festive beverage

Thandai is the drink most people associate with Holi: a fragrant, nut-forward milk beverage meant to soothe after a morning in the sun. Traditional thandai blends almonds, pistachios, fennel seeds, melon seeds, black pepper, and saffron with milk. For family-friendly Holi, skip any bhang additions and keep the recipe alcohol-free. At home in the US, use store-bought almond milk or a mix of dairy and nut milk to save time, and pick up pre-ground cardamom if you want to speed things up. A quick approach: grind the nuts and seeds into a coarse paste, soak briefly in milk, strain, and then mix with chilled milk and sweetener. Chill thoroughly before serving; add edible rose petals or thinly sliced almonds on top for a festive look. Offer a decanter of thandai beside the snack table so guests can help themselves between rounds of colors and conversation.