Summer's best treat, Rose Falooda is a dessert drink with rose syrup, crunchy plump sweet basil seeds, silky noodles, and milk, topped with vanilla ice cream. Optionally garnished with nuts or rose petals, this cooling drink can be assembled within minutes, making it the easiest yet most stunning dessert ever!

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Falooda is a much-loved dessert that combines cool, creamy, and refreshing flavors and textures. Inspired by a similar Persian treat called Faloodeh, it gradually took on its own identity in India. Over time, it was adapted with local ingredients like rose syrup, sabja seeds, vermicelli, and rich kulfi or ice cream. Today, falooda is a popular street food and a favorite for festive occasions, known for its beautiful layers and indulgent taste.
Falooda comes in many delicious variations, but my personal favorite is Rose Falooda - a beautiful and refreshing treat that’s as easy to make as it is delightful to drink. This version features the classic combination of rose syrup, chilled milk, falooda sev, and soaked basil seeds, all layered together for a visually stunning and satisfying dessert.
One of the best parts about Rose Falooda is how simple it is to prepare ahead of time. The key components—like soaking the sabja (basil) seeds and cooking the falooda sev can be done a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator. When you're ready to serve, it’s just a matter of assembling the layers. It’s perfect for entertaining, festive gatherings, or a sweet end to a summer meal.
Ingredient Notes
- Sweet basil seeds: Also known as Tukmaria or Sabja, are the seeds of sweet basil plants found commonly in India. Unlike chia seeds, sweet basil seeds are eaten after soaking in water. When soaked in water, they get a gelatinous tapioca-like texture within minutes. With a chewy, crunchy texture, these basil seeds have no flavor and hence can be used in many recipes, especially in cooling drinks or even plain water.
- Noodles: thin noodles known as falooda sev, made of corn starch or tapioca flour, are often added to falooda. Some people make their own noodles from scratch, but I prefer buying them ready-made. To use, simply boil them in hot water for 5 minutes, pour into a colander, rinse them off with cold water, and drain the water completely.
- Sweetened rose syrup: A must in this recipe! It adds refreshing aromas and sweetness to the drink. Some of the brands that I recommend are Guruji (available in Indian grocery stores), Monin, and Rooh Afza. Tip: This syrup is also perfect for making many refreshing summery drinks, including my favorite - simple rose water with chia or basil seeds.
How to Make Falooda
Assembling Falooda is super simple! I like to use tall 12-ounce glasses, but you can use shorter glasses to make smaller servings. Also, the quantities below in the recipe card are just my suggestions; add more or less to your taste preference. Remember, there is no wrong way to make this dish; it always comes out stunning.
Simply layer soaked basil seeds, cooked noodles, and rose syrup in a tall glass. Pour in milk, top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and garnish with nuts or rose petals if desired.
Serving
Serve the falooda immediately. Want to make this for your next movie night or a celebration? Pair it with Mumbai Pav Bhaji, Keema Pav, Paneer Kathi Rolls, or Masala Chicken Burgers for a festive Indian meal!
Tips
- Falooda is a great make-ahead dessert. You can soak the basil seeds 2 to 3 days ahead and keep them both refrigerated until ready to be served.
- Noodles can also be cooked ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Before refrigerating, add an extra two to three tablespoons of water to the drained noodles so they do not stick to each other.
- Want to make it for a party or potluck? Serve in small, disposable clear plastic cups. You can layer basil seeds, noodles, and syrup the night before and keep them refrigerated. Simply add milk and ice cream when you are ready to serve.
Recipe
Homemade Falooda (Rose Flavored Ice Cream Sundae Float)
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sweet basil seeds
- ½ cup water
- ½ pack falooda sev or thin corn noodles available in Indian grocery stores
- 4 to 6 tablespoons rose syrup
- 1 cup milk low fat or full fat
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
Garnish (optional)
- 1 tablespoon pistachios sliced
- 1 tablespoon edible dried rose petals
Instructions
- Soak sweet basil seeds in water
- Boil 3 cups of water. Using kitchen sheers cut the falooda noodles into 2 to 3- inch long pieces and then cook them as per the package instructions. Pour in a colander and rinse them in cold water, drain all the water, and set aside.
- Assemble the drink in 2 tall glasses by layering 2 tablespoons of soaked sweet basil seeds, 2 tablespoons of cooked noodles and 2 tablespoons of rose syrup.
- Pour ⅔ cup of milk into each glass. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Garnish with thinly sliced nuts and rose petals. Stir gently and add more rose syrup if needed. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Soaked Basil seeds and cooked noodles can be refrigerated individually for 2 to 3 days
Nutrition
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Leyla says
Wow! Very interesting combination of ingredients 🙂
Archana says
Thank you Leyla!!
Aayushi Manish says
Delectable :p
Archana says
Thank you Aayushi!
Garima says
Delicious! What kind of noodles did u use and where did u buy them? Any links? Thanks
Archana says
I have link the noodles, they are corn noodles and available in most Indian grocery stores. Just ask for Falooda sev 🙂
Smiling Notes says
Falooda is one of my fav! Lovely recipe.. looks really yum!
Archana says
Mine too❤️?
Sumith Babu says
Looks marvellous!!
Archana says
Thank you!!
srividhya says
Very nice.. I love the sabja seeds. This falooda is very satisfying also.
Archana says
Thank you Srividya!
Fijay says
Oh ...gosh ...here we go again ...must try this
Archana says
Please do try! You will love it!
Rini says
Hi there. I nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award. http://wp.me/p66BdH-26y 🙂
Archana says
Thank you Rini!
Anu Yalo says
Nice!!
Archana says
Thanks Anu!!
Fairytales & Foibles says
How beautiful!
Monika says
My favourite ? looks yum..
Archana says
Mine too!❤️❤️
TheMintThief says
I LOVE falooda, and this one looks so beautiful and delicious. Drooling, literally! ?
Archana says
Thank you Nafisa for your kind words! Falooda is my favorite too! So easy to make but so flavorful!
lathiya says
Whenever we go to restaurant, it doesn't complete without Falooda.Your version looks royal.Love the rose flavored Falooda
Archana says
Thank you Lathiya! This is our FAV summer dessert/drink 🙂
Foodeva Marsay says
This Looks Yummylicious Archana??
Archana says
Thank you Marriam 🙂
100rb (realoveforever) says
i think title should be "Yummy Flooda by Archana" really nice recipe
Archana says
Thank you!
indianeskitchen says
This looks amazing! I have never heard of it before.
Archana says
Thank you!
Harpreet says
Where do you the sweet basil seeds from?
Archana says
Indian grocery stores or amazon. I have linked them in the recipe
Spruthi says
Really yummy and easy to make. Thanks Archana for yummy and easy recipes.
Z says
Hi Archana,
Can't wait to try your recipe! I notice that you mentioned both, Monin Rose Syrup & Rooh Afza. I was wondering if you can possibly describe the flavour of Monin Rose Syrup? Would you say it is more authentic or close to the actual Falooda Flavour? I ask because the kids aren't big fans of Rooh Afza so, wanting to try the alternative. Thanks in advance!
Archana says
If your kids do not like rooh afza, I recently tried a better rose syrup that I like even better than Monin. It's from a brand called "Guruji" and is available in Indian grocery stores.