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Rose and Almond flavored Falooda

I was compensated by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas for my time in developing this recipe and post.
All opinions are my own.

This totally scrumptious, rose and almond flavored, drinkable dessert with basil seeds, tapioca pearls, strawberry jello and ice cream is the perfect accompaniment to burgers and BBQ!

Falooda - A cool and delicious rose water and rose syrup beverage with basil seeds, tapioca pearls and almond extract, served with ice cream it will become a summer favorite

When I was a young ‘un, there were certain treats that were just so good they only made their appearance in our midst only on uber special occasions. Take, for example, my mom’s luscious chocolate cake!

Two layers of decadently moist chocolate butter cake with a rich, velvety, fudgy frosting only made an appearance on birthdays – which meant we had it maybe four times a year unless my father wanted a vanilla butter cake, then it was three times a year!

Falooda - A cool and delicious rose water and rose syrup beverage with basil seeds, tapioca pearls and almond extract, served with ice cream it will become a summer favorite

And then there was, rose flavored Falooda. This drinkable dessert with layers of strawberry jello, basil seeds, milk, rose syrup, and ice cream only took the place of smoothies and shakes on a special day like the last day of school!

I always thought Falooda was a traditional Sri Lankan drink, but, when I did some Googling I came to find that Falooda is supposed to have originated in Persia, where it was called Faloodeh.

Muslim merchants were the ones responsible for bringing this drinkable dessert to countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka.

Nielsen Massey Extracts and Flavorings

Nowadays, each country has their own unique version of Falooda or Faluda. Some add in creamed coconut and mango and black tea along with rose syrup flavored milk, basil seeds and vermicelli. Some add pistachios and ice cream. While some add in thicker vermicelli or use premature tapioca pearls.

The version I am sharing today is similar to the one my mom used to make my sister and I when we were younger. However, this version does not have vermicelli. I did use soaked basil seeds and microwaved tapioca pearls instead of the sago my mom used. And, I added in an extra oomph of flavor by adding in some Nielsen-Massey Rose Water and some Nielsen-Massey Pure Almond Extract.

Falooda - A cool and delicious rose water and rose syrup beverage with basil seeds, tapioca pearls and almond extract, served with ice cream it will become a summer favorite

Have you had a chance to experiment with Nielsen-Massey products before?

Just like I fed my curiosity about the beginnings of Falooda, I did some Googling and found that Nielsen Massey is a family run operation that has been churning out pure flavors and extracts since 1907. And, just like Falooda has been delighting tastebuds in a plethora of countries, Nielsen Massey’s products have been enhancing the cooking and baking of professional cooks and home cooks in South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Australia!

[Tweet “@NielsenMassey Rose & Almond flavored Falooda is sure 2 b 1 of your #FlavorsOfSummer #ad @FoodFanatical”]

Falooda - A cool and delicious rose water and rose syrup beverage with basil seeds, tapioca pearls and almond extract, served with ice cream it will become a summer favorite

All Nielsen Massey products are certified gluten-free, certified Kosher, and are allergen-free and GMO-Free.

If you are looking for recipe ideas and inspiration on the best way to use Nielsen Massey products, be sure to check out their website and follow them on Instagram!

This recipe can also be found on Food Fanatic – along with other recipes on Food Fanatic that will also be celebrating the Flavors of Summer with Nielsen-Massey.

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Friday 5th of June 2020

[…] like nasturtiums, violets, borage, squash, sunflowers", the first thing that came to mind was "Falooda", a drink I grew up with that uses rose […]

Tara @ Sweat like a Pig

Monday 23rd of May 2016

I've never heard of this either but it sounds delicious - and it looks too pretty to drink!

Rafeeda@The Big Sweet Tooth

Monday 23rd of May 2016

Falooda is something that we have as soon as it is time for dessert after a heavy meal. The ones that get served in Kerala does have some vermicelli plus loads of nuts and tutti frutti to chew in between... This sounds easy and simple and love the added almond flavor for a punch... :)

Zena | Zena 'n Zaatar

Monday 23rd of May 2016

Omg this looks amazing!! I love rose and almond flavored desserts so I will have to try this, especially since it is such a beautiful color :)

Muna Kenny

Saturday 21st of May 2016

Falooda was my best friend when I was a kid, I had so much of it but never had enough :) ... I'm going to try your recipe, you made it look much better than how I remember it, beautiful clicks!