Thandai or bhaang

Bhaang is prepared by grounding the buds and leaves of cannabis into a paste. It's then mixed in thandai

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 litre- water
• 1 1/2 cups- sugar
• 1 cup - milk
• 1 tbsp - almonds
• 1 tbsp - watermelon/cantaloupe seeds(dried and skinned)
• 1/2 tbsp - poppy seeds
• 1/2 tbsp - aniseed
• 1/2 tsp - cardamom powder
• 1 tsp - peppercorns(whole)
• 1/4 cup - dried or fresh rose petals(gulkand variety)
• 2 to 4 tbsp - bhaang paste (depending on how potent you want the drink to be)

METHOD

• soak sugar in 1/2 litre of water and all other dry ingredients in 2 cups of water for at least 2 hours.
• grind soaked ingredients(not sugar) to a very fine paste.
• mix remaining water to paste and strain it to extract the liquid into a vessel until the residue becomes dry.
• add milk, sugar to the liquid.
• mix the cardamom powder in the milk.
• chill for an hour or two before serving.
• makes about 8 glasses.