Curry Cola
I’m sitting here drinking a bottle of Thums Up, a cola beverage from India, developed as an indigenous replacement after the country kicked out the Coca-Cola company back in the 70’s (ironically, it was later purchased by Coca Cola in the 90’s).
Somehow I never noticed just how much it tastes like Indian spices. I can’t quite place it–maybe hints of some curry? coriander? Sometimes I think it tastes a little like sweet paan in a bottle.
Maybe at this point it’s just association from having had it with a lot of dosas. Whatever it is, it beats the hell out of any of the transnational colas.
December 7th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Interesting! Is this stuff available in Indian markets in the US, or how did you get it? And do you know why “thums” is spelled without the “b”?
December 7th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Yeah, you can sometimes find it in the drinks section of Indian markets. It comes in a really pleasingly heavy glass bottle–intended for return and reuse, but of course the whole shipping it half way around the world thing sort of breaks that system.
December 7th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
No idea about the missing ‘b’. It has the feel of the common sorts of mispellings you’d see on small business signs and menus across India, but I have no idea of that’s original, and it just stuck, or if it was deliberately crafted that way.
December 9th, 2008 at 6:42 am
…fenugreek?…
December 9th, 2008 at 8:58 am
fenugreek is definitely possible. it’s one of those North Indian spices I’ve never quite managed to get a nose for . . .