Banaras thandai, the cool almond-and-spice milk drink tied to the city's Holi and Mahashivratri, carries a GI tag. A clean, well-packed thandai powder and paste lets pilgrims, tourists and families elsewhere make the Banaras taste at home.
Tap all that apply
One quick sign-in to count you — Indian numbers via SMS OTP, everyone else via email OTP.
This unit makes thandai mix, the base for a cold milk drink flavoured with almonds, fennel, melon seeds, poppy seeds, black pepper, cardamom and rose. You clean, roast and grind these into a dry powder and a sweet paste, and pack them in pouches and jars that people stir into milk.
Thandai shops are a familiar sight in Varanasi, the drink is tied to the city's Holi and Mahashivratri, and Banaras thandai now has a GI (Geographical Indication) tag. Pilgrims want to take a taste of the city home. NABARD's 2023-24 credit plan for Varanasi puts food and agro processing potential at Rs 19.66 crore.
You need an FSSAI food licence, a clean room with a roaster, grinder, mixer and pouch sealer, and a tested recipe. To use the GI name on packs you must register as a GI authorised user, so first check that a dry mix qualifies. The hard part is shelf life and price. Nuts go stale fast and are costly, and large brands already sell thandai mixes across India. Sales peak around Holi and in summer. Keep the mix free of bhang, and check the rules before selling abroad, as some countries ban poppy seeds.
Sell through sweet and gift shops near the ghats, hotels, online stores and wedding caterers.
Why this opportunity, here
What the district has
See everything the district has, and loses, on the Varanasi district page.
Eligible schemes
Indicative only — final eligibility depends on promoter category, location, and the bank's credit policy. The DPR generator spells out exact subsidy quanta for your specific case.
Real numbers contributed by people on the ground. Visit markets, talk to suppliers, drop in what you know.
Know a real number — wholesale price, yield, transport cost?
Sign in to add a fact.
Specific calls for the community. Vote on polls, share what you know, find co-explorers.
Want to ask the community something specific?
Sign in to post an ask.
Success stories
Who's building this
Be the first to claim this opportunity. Future visitors will see your build log here.
Be the first to ask. Specific doubts get specific answers.
Have a specific doubt about this idea?
Sign in to ask a question.
Be the first to share a thought, question, or experience.
Want to share a thought, react, or note what you tried?
Sign in to post a comment.
Ready to put this in front of a banker?
Generate a Detailed Project Report (DPR) — the document banks ask for on MSME loan applications — customised to your capital, land, and capacity.
Couldn't find what you needed? Be the first to ask the community about Banaras thandai premix powder and paste unit.
