For those who grew up before the nineties, summer during their childhoods was marked by desi fizzy drinks, juices and milks. Long before Coca Cola and fancy mocktails became the norm, colourful drinks in glass bottles and tetra packs had already made a place in the hearts of the people of India. Here are seven retro soft drinks that the country has always loved:
Banta soda
Essentially fizzy lemonade in glass bottles with marble stoppers, banta soda has been a quintessential Delhi summer drink for years. A unique masala is added to the lemonade to give it some spice and vendors push the marbles into the bottles to unseal the drink for their customers.
Campa Cola
With derelict, out-of-use factories that could be seen even after the popularity of the drink died down, Campa Cola was a crowd favourite in the 70s. The company behind the brand was Campa Beverages Pvt. Ltd, and the drink was served across clubs in India. Its effect on the public waned as Coca Cola and Pepsi entered the market.
Pallonji’s Raspberry Soda
Bottles of bright pink liquid with the disclaimer “Contains no fruit” have been the identifier for Pallonji’s Raspberry Soda, which is served at Irani cafes and Parsi restaurants across the country. The saccharine drink is also a mainstay at Parsi weddings and other celebrations, since it complements Parsi food.
Frooti
Frooti was introduced to the Indian market in 1985 by Parle Agro. The sweet, non-fizzy mango drink was sold in bright green tetra packs that had a mango illustration imprinted on the front. Still available at kirana shops and supermarkets, Frooti keeps changing its branding to keep things fresh.
RimZim
A Parle product later acquired by Coca Cola, ‘RimZim’ has always been associated with a fizzy jeera drink. It has been a drink loved by the masses, especially in the 80s, before it was discontinued in the 90s. The drink came back with a bang in 2018, pleasantly surprising fans all over the country.
Keventers Milk
Known for its flavoured milk, the legacy of Keventers can be traced back to 1925. It has been Delhi’s favourite when it comes to milkshakes, with flavours like strawberry, vanilla, butterscotch, bubblegum, mango, sitafal, rasmalai and kesar badam. The glass bottles that the milk is sold in are worth saving.
