• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Herbivore Cucina

  • Recipe Index
  • Indian
  • Instant Pot
  • Air-Fryer
  • International
  • Cakes & Bakes
  • More..
    • Featured
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Instant Pot
  • LTK Shop
    • Amazon Store
  • Contact
  • Get Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About Me
    • Recipe Index
    • Instant Pot
    • LTK Shop
      • Amazon Store
    • Contact
  • Get Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Holi

    Published: Mar 5, 2023 by Smruti · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Thandai Boba

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    A delicious fusion recipe of Kesar Thandai, this Thandai Boba is refreshing and easy to make.

    With just a few components it can be assembled in under ten minutes. Enjoy it chilled for Holi and through the summer months!

    Front view of boba thandai with vanilla ice cream and toppings.

    Holi calls for Thandai for sure. But we can make a fusion recipe to celebrate too! This Thandai Boba is exactly that.

    Inspired by the Asian drink Boba Tea, this drink is great for festivals like Holi and beyond. It is a fusion recipe that starts with perfectly cooked sweetened boba, chilled kesar thandai and vanilla ice-cream.

    It combines two classics to make a fun drink. Moreover, it is easy to customize and enjoy throughout summers too.

    Jump to:
    • What is Thandai?
    • What is Boba?
    • Why this recipe works
    • Ingredients and Substitutions
    • How to make this recipe
    • Expert Tips and Notes
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Holi to try
    • Thandai Boba

    What is Thandai?

    Thandai or Sardai is a cooling drink from India. Enjoyed extensively during the festival of Holi, Mahashivratri and through the summer months.

    Thandai is made using a spice mix called Thandai Masala. This masala is essentially a blended version of seeds, nuts and flowers. Melon seeds, fennel seeds, cashews, almonds, cardamom pods, rose petals and saffron are the key ingredients in it.

    Made with chilled milk for an instant version or boiled for a long time and cooled the traditional way, both the thandai recipes work well. However, here we are going to be using the instant version. Also try this Rose Thandai; it is delicious and amazing with all the floral notes! And this Thandai Ice-cream is our favorite too.

    What is Boba?

    Boba is a specific kind of dessert and drink topping made with tapioca starch. It comes as tight hard balls that become soft and spongy once cooked and added to a sweetener.

    Boba is often used in Asian milk teas, water based teas and many desserts. It does not store very well and so we use it instantly in almost every recipe.

    These play a great part in adding texture to the drink we are making. Also try these popular drinks I have shared earlier: Instant Pot Boba Tea, Rose Boba tea.

    Why this recipe works

    • A combination of boba, thandai and vanilla ice-cream; this recipe is a great cooling drink for summers.
    • For festivals like Holi, this drink is a welcome change from just traditional Thandai. It has so much more flavor and texture compared to regular thandai. And it works beautifully on other festivals like Diwali too.
    • Once we have the thandai made from either home-made thandai masala or store bought; making the drink is only a matter of ten minutes. And the drink works best when made per glass instead of a batch.
    • The recipe is easy to customize as we can add any flavor thandai with boba and flavored ice-cream.

    We love to make this recipe with kesar thandai, maple soaked boba, vanilla ice-cream and a host of toppings like colored fennel and dried rose petals. Together this combination is a classic, but the variations are great too.

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    Thandai boba ingredients; boba, thandai powder, milk, vanilla ice cream.
    • Boba: As the name suggests we use boba for this recipe. These can be cooked using an open pot or an Instant Pot. Once done, set them aside to cool before adding to the recipe.
    • Thandai Powder: Thandai Masala is the ingredient that is a must-have for the recipe. I like to pre-make the powder and use it as required. However, store bought thandai powder works well too.
    • Whole Milk: The next ingredient here is milk. I use whole milk for the creamiest and most delicious thandai. Please refrain from using milk of a lower fat content as the end result will not be as wholesome.
    • Vanilla ice-cream: The topping on my drink is almost always vanilla ice-cream. It is creamy, smooth and makes the entire drink top notch. Skip if you like but I would strongly recommend it.
    • Sugar: Given that the drink is a sweet one, I like to add some sugar. Though boba is soaked in either sugar syrup or honey and we add vanilla ice cream, some sugar is great for the drink. Skip it if you prefer a less sweet version.

    Moreover, apart from these ingredients, I like to add some colored fennel seeds and dried rose petals on top. These work for flavoring and making the drink look chic.

    See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information, measurements and nutrition.

    How to make this recipe

    1- Heat water in a pan and add dried honey boba. Mix well.

    2-Bring to a boil and cook for 18-20 minutes. Stir intermittently to avoid it from sticking.

    Cook boba in enough water till soft.

    3- Turn down the heat and let the boba cool. Drain boba and place them in a flat bowl. Add maple syrup on it and set aside.

    4- Prepare kesar thandai as per this thandai recipe and chill till ready to use.

    Drain and add maple syrup; meanwhile prepare thandai in a container and chill.

    5- In a glass add 2 tablespoons of boba.

    6- Then top it with cold thandai.

    In a glass add boba and top with thandai.

    7- Add a scoop of vanilla ice-cream on top.

    8- Then sprinkle some colored fennel seeds and dried rose petals on top. Enjoy this thandai boba drink!

    Add vanilla ice-cream and top it off with colorful fennel and dried rose petals.

    Expert Tips and Notes

    • Make the Thandai before hand and chill till ready to serve. This chilled thandai works wonderfully in the recipe. Plus, make the boba just before serving so they are soft and chewable.
    • The drink is best assembled by glasses rather than a big batch. Each person can have their own version with more or less bobs, with or without ice-cream etc.
    • This recipe is great for festivals like Holi and Diwali and also through the summer months. A welcome change from traditional thandai, this recipe is awesome in taste and flavor.
    • To make the drink perfectly balanced ensure that the sugar in thandai balances the sweetness of maple syrup of boba and vanilla ice-cream. So add only a limited amount of sugar to the thandai.
    Top view of boba thandai with all the toppings like colored fennel and dried rose petals against a backdrop of dried flowers and boba.

    Recipe FAQs

    What is Thandai?

    Thandai or Sardai is a cooling drink from India. Enjoyed extensively during the festival of Holi, Mahashivratri and through the summer months. It is made using a spice mix that is essentially a blended version of seeds, nuts and flowers. Melon seeds, fennel seeds, cashews, almonds, cardamom pods, rose petals and saffron are the key ingredients in it.

    What is Thandai Boba?

    A combination of boba, thandai and vanilla ice-cream; this recipe is a great cooling drink for summers. This drink is a great one for Holi, Diwali or through the summer months.

    Can the recipe be made ahead of time?

    While the thandai is best ahead of time, make the boba sometime before serving. And as the drink has ice-cream, it can only be made in each glass just before serving.

    Boba thandai topped with ice-cream and all the toppings, against a backdrop with flowers and boba.

    More Holi to try

    • Rose Thandai
    • Bowl with Thandai Ice cream
      Thandai Ice Cream
    • Baked Thandai Gujiya
    • Rose Shrikhand Popsicles
      Rose Shrikhand Popsicles

    Love this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below & if you REALLY like it, consider a review in the comments whilst you are there, thanks!

    Top view of boba thandai with all the toppings like colored fennel and dried rose petals against a backdrop of dried flowers and boba.

    Thandai Boba

    Smruti
    A delicious fusion recipe of Kesar Thandai, this Thandai Boba is refreshing, delicious and easy to make.
    With just a few components it can be assembled in under ten minutes. Enjoy it chilled for Holi and through the summer months!
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Assembly Time 10 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Dessert, Drinks
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 2
    Calories 337 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    For the Boba

    • ½ cup boba
    • 3 cups water
    • 2 tablespoon maple syrup

    For the Drink

    • 2 cups thandai
    • 2 scoops vanilla ice-cream
    • 1 teaspoon colored fennel seeds
    • 1 teaspoon dried rose petals

    Instructions
     

    • Heat water in a pan and add dried honey boba. Mix well.
    • Bring to a boil and cook for 18-20 minutes. Stir intermittently to avoid it from sticking.
    • Turn down the heat and let the boba cool. Drain boba and place them in a flat bowl. Add maple syrup on it and set aside.
    • Prepare the thandai as per this thandai recipe and chill till ready to use.
    • In a glass add 2 tablespoons of boba.
    • Top it with cold thandai.
    • Add a scoop of vanilla ice-cream on top.
    • Sprinkle some colored fennel seeds and dried rose petals on top. Enjoy this thandai boba drink!

    Video

    Notes

    • Make the Thandai before hand and chill till ready to serve. The chilled thandai works wonderfully in the recipe. Plus, make the boba just before serving so they are soft and chewable.
    • The drink is best assembled by glasses rather than a big batch. Each person can have their own version with more or less bobs, with or without ice-cream etc.
    • This recipe is great for festivals like Holi and Diwali and also through the summer months. A welcome change from traditional thandai, this recipe is awesome in taste and flavor.
    • To make the drink perfectly balanced ensure that the sugar in thandai balances the sweetness of maple syrup of boba and vanilla ice-cream. Add only a limited amount of sugar to the thandai.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 337kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 10gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 165mgPotassium: 547mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 38gVitamin A: 721IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 418mgIron: 0.1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « Potato Edamame Curry
    Lemon Rice »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    About Me

    Smruti headshot

    This blog is dedicated to one of my greatest passions, Cooking. I have always loved to cook, especially trying out some unconventional recipes.

    Learn more about me →

    Spring Recipes

    • Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip
      Spinach Artichoke Dip
    • Rice Paper Rolls | Vietnamese Spring Rolls
    • Cheesy Polenta with Sautéed Asparagus
    • Kale Dal
    • Air Fried Cauliflower Bites
    • Stir-Fried Sesame Asparagus

    Popular Recipes

    • Air Fryer noodles in a tray with vegetables
      Air Fryer Noodles
    • Front view of Papdi Chaat Dip
      Papdi Chaat Dip
    • Top view of chaat
      Khasta Kachori Chaat
    • glass with rose boba tea
      Rose Boba (Bubble) Tea
    • Air Fryer Handvo in a plate with ketchup and chutney
      Air Fryer Handvo
    • Indian Mixed Fruit Cocktail Juice

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About Me
    • Work with Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Herbivorecucina.com