Indian street food
What is masala soda?
Masala soda is a fizzy, tangy, spiced lemon drink sold at Indian street stalls: soda water, lime, black salt and roasted cumin, shaken until it bubbles.
From the Tapri Chai kitchen · November 2026 · 2 min read
Base
Soda water, lemon
Spice
Black salt, cumin
Taste
Tangy, salty, fizzy
Also called
Banta, shikanji soda
01
What is in it
A glass of cold soda water with fresh lemon or lime juice, a pinch of black salt (kala namak), roasted cumin powder and a masala blend, with sugar or sugar syrup in many versions. Mint is sometimes added for freshness.
02
Why “banta”?
Banta is the traditional glass bottle with a marble in the neck that pops open with a loud fizz. In Mumbai and parts of Gujarat the word came to mean the soda itself, and a bottle of lemon-and-spice banta is a classic summer drink.
03
What it tastes like
Sharp, salty and sweet at the same time. The black salt gives it a distinctive savoury, slightly sulphurous note that people either love immediately or find strange for the first sip. After the second sip, most people are converted.
04
Why it works with food
Masala soda is a palate cleanser. The fizz and lemon cut through fried and rich foods, and the spice echoes the chaat masala on your plate. It is a natural partner for pani puri, samosa and vada pav.
05
Masala soda at Tapri Chai
Our Masala Soda is a refreshing tangy drink with spices and lemon bubbles, $5.99 in the Thanda / Banta section of the menu. Find it at 200 Kennevale Dr in Barrhaven, Ottawa, open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm.
Questions, answered.
What is masala soda made of?
Soda water, lemon or lime juice, black salt, roasted cumin and spices, often with a little sugar.
What does masala soda taste like?
Tangy, salty and slightly sweet, with a savoury spice. It is refreshing and very different from a cola.
What is banta?
Banta is a glass soda bottle sealed with a marble, and by extension the lemon soda sold in it, especially in Mumbai and Gujarat.
Is masala soda vegetarian?
Yes. Everything at Tapri Chai is vegetarian.
How much is masala soda at Tapri Chai?
Masala Soda is $5.99 CAD.
At Tapri Chai
Taste it for yourself.
Our kitchen in Barrhaven is 100% vegetarian. 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Ottawa. Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm. Closed Mondays.