Giani Di Lassi, Amritsar

The establishment has been here since 1921. Right at Hathi Gate, Amritsar, in what feels like a very old part of a very old city.

Giani Di Lassi is famous for one thing above all: the peda wali lassi.

Workers at Giani Di Lassi churning peda wali lassi in the traditional manual churner, Hathi Gate, Amritsar

What Peda Is

Peda is an Indian sweet made primarily from condensed milk. It originates from Mathura but is popular all across North India. It's dense, mildly sweet, and has a distinct dairy richness to it.

How the Lassi Is Made

A few pieces of peda go into the churner first. They are mashed together with a little water to extract the makkhan (butter) from the peda. This makkhan is set aside.

Then a large amount of fresh dahi goes into the same churner, along with the watery liquid left over from the peda mashing. The churner spins until everything is properly blended.

The lassi is poured into a big steel glass and topped first with the peda malai, and then with fresh dahi malai over it.

Yash drinking peda wali lassi from a steel glass at Giani Di Lassi, Amritsar

One Glass Is Enough

This lassi is as heavy as a full meal. It's often jokingly called a "natural anaesthesia" by people who visit. You drink one glass, and you will take a very deep nap shortly after.

They do have a half-glass option, which I'd recommend if you're planning to do anything else with your day after.

I believe they also serve a regular lassi (without the peda), though the peda wali is what most people come for.

Stand on the busy streets of Hathi Gate, drink your lassi, and watch a hundred-year-old shop carry on doing exactly what it has always done.

Part of the Iconic Lassi Stops of India series.