Masala nimbu soda | Masala soda recipe | Masala lemon soda recipe

Masala nimbu soda aka masala soda recipe is one of the most refreshing non-alcoholic Indian summer drinks which is crazily popular in India and a few subcontinents of Asia. It is sold on almost every corner of Delhi and Mumbai in stalls and by street vendors during summer. Masala lemon soda recipe is considered a perfect Indian summer drink which is very good for digestion. It is the amalgamation of club soda, lime juice, sugar, black salt, ice cubes and a few specific spices and herbs. It is mostly served chilled as a beverage or along with the meal.

About the recipe
Health Benefits of Masala Soda
Tips and Suggestions
Frequently Asked Questions
How to make Masala Soda (step wise photos)
Recipe Card

Masala nimbu soda is a non-alcoholic summer drink which is frequently prepared in India. The name itself reveals the recipe where ‘masala’ means ‘spices’, ‘nimbu’ means ‘lime’ and ‘soda’ means ‘carbonated water’. In short, it is basically a spicy lime soda which is a mixture of soda, lime juice, sugar, black salt, mint leaves, a few spices and ice cubes.

Masala nimbu soda is one of the most often-prepared summer beverages in Indian households. In fact, during summer this refreshing drink is sold by many street vendors in their street-side carts, other than restaurants, café and stalls. Masala nimbu soda recipe is prepared in almost every part of India and is known by different names. It is also popular as masala soda, masala lemon soda, jeera masala soda, spicy lemonade, mint masala soda etc.

Summer means scorching sun, heat, dehydration and water loss due to sweating and thirst. All these things absorb our energy and leave us lethargic, especially after coming from outside during these days. Nothing can be better than a chilled glass of masala soda recipe to quench our thirst and instantly regain our lost energy. A glass of vitamin C-rich drink with cooling agents like mint herb can be considered as one of the best ways to cool off after fighting the sun.

Since my childhood, I have seen my mother quite frequently prepare a jug of shikanji recipe during summer days and serve us after coming from outdoor activities. But she used to prepare the same drink with soda for elders and we used to get tempted by it. My mom always used to tell us – both drinks are very similar when you will grow up a bit, I will make it for you as well.

According to me, masala nimbu soda is one of the easiest summer beverages that I have ever prepared. This ridiculously easy-to-make summer drink hardly takes 5 minutes to come to your glass. Only a few basic ingredients which are easily available in any kitchen pantry are enough to prepare this splendid drink. It could be a great option for beverage at any summer party or get-together. Other than this, masala soda recipe can also be served with spicy food to help to digest the meal.

Masala nimbu soda with step-by-step photos and instructions have been provided in the ‘Instructions’ section of the recipe. I have included all the tips and tricks below to make the recipe easier for you. But before directly jumping into the recipe, let me share a few interesting facts about the recipe.

Lime: The primary ingredient of nimbu soda is lime or lime juice which provides a tangy taste and flavour to the refreshing drink.

Soda: The second most important ingredient which provides the body to the drink and dilutes the base.

Mint leaves: It adds a cooling property and a refreshing aroma to the masala soda.

Ginger: The addition of ginger gives a zing and nice flavour to the drink.

Roasted cumin & black peppercorns: The addition of the spices provides an earthy flavour to the drink and slight heaty touch which goes awesome with the drink.

Chaat masala: It gives a better aroma and taste to the drink with its tangy taste and flavour.

Black Salt: It adds a unique flavour which complements the drink and enhances its taste.

Sugar: It adds the required sweetness to the sweet lime soda. But other sweeteners like honey or maple syrup can also be used instead of sugar.

Water: Water is used to make the masala paste.

Ice cubes: It makes the drink chilled.

Other than preparing regular masala soda, you can come up with many new ideas and variations to give a twist.

If you have less time and want to keep the recipe simple, then just skip the mint leaves and masalas from the recipe. Just add lime juice, water, sugar, salt and give a mix. Your plain shikanji is ready.

If you like a strong lime flavour, then add some lime zest to the drink.

If you like to add some boozy flavour to it then add vodka or white rum and reduce the amount of soda accordingly to make a perfect cocktail.

You can add water instead of soda and can prepare masala nimbu pani which you can serve as a beverage.

• It helps to get hydrated.
• It is a good source of vitamin C which is very essential for our skin health. It rejuvenates our skin and reduces skin wrinkling and dry skin due to age.
• It is good for our digestive system and helps to prevent constipation.
• It freshens our breath and helps to get rid of toothache in some cases.

Firstly, there is no hard and fast rule to prepare masala soda recipe. You can manipulate the recipe according to your own preferences and likes.

• Always use chilled soda to prepare the masala nimbu soda for immediate service.
• The addition of ice cubes makes the drink more chilled and soothing.
• If you prefer tangy taste, then either increase the amount of lime juice or reduce the amount of sugar.
• If you like heaty touch to your drink, then increase the amount of black pepper powder.
• Don’t skip roasted cumin from the recipe. It gives an earthy flavour to the drink.
• If you don’t have chaat masala then you can add amchur powder instead of that.
• If you don’t have black salt, then use regular salt instead of that. But the addition of black salt gives a better flavour to the drink.
• Just give a single stir after adding the soda, so the soda releases a minimum carbon dioxide bubbles.

Lime is the preferred citrus for this drink recipe, but lemon also works fine. If you don’t have lime, then you can use lemon.

There is a very minute difference between masala soda and sweet lime soda. Both are lime-based sweet drinks. The only difference is no spice is added to the sweet lime soda. If pudina leaves and a few spices are added to the sweet lime soda then it will turn into masala soda.

I have never tried to freeze it, but it can be done. You can pour the masala soda into the icing tray and freeze them. Then transfer the masala soda ice cubes into a zip-lock bag. Just pour the cubes into the glasses and add little soda. Allow them to melt before serving.

Yes, you can. To make the drink healthier, you can use honey instead of sugar. In fact, you can add a sweetener of your choice to the recipe.

To prepare the masala soda recipe, first pluck the mint leaves from the stems and wash them thoroughly.

Take a small jar of a grinder and add mint leaves and peeled small ginger pieces into the jar. Then add roasted cumin seeds, black peppercorns, chat masala and black salt, one by one into the jar.

Then add sugar and fresh lime juice into the jar. Squeeze lime juice with a lime squeezer directly into the jar. If you don’t have a lime squeezer, then squeeze the lemon with your hand separately in a bowl and strain the juice before use. Make sure there is no pulp or seed in the juice.

Then add a little bit of water into the jar to pulse the masala easily. Pulse it to a smooth paste.

Now take a glass and add some masala paste to it.

Then add ice cubes into the glass. You can add a number of ice cubes accordingly.

Then pour chilled soda into the glass slowly. You need to be careful at this stage because if you pour it fast then the bubbles may come out of the glass and it will be messy.

Stir the drink slowly once and it’s ready to serve now. Garnish the masala soda recipe with some mint leaves and serve it immediately.

Many summer drinks recipes have already been shared in my previous posts. You can check a few of them like

Sweet lime soda
Shikanji
Aam panna
Pineapple mojito
Red grapes mojito

..And Many more…

1 cup = 250 ml

• 12-14 Mint leaves aka Pudina
• 2 Limes or 4 tablespoons freshly squeezed Lime juice
• ½ inch Ginger, peeled and small diced
• 8 black Peppercorns aka Kali Mirch
• 1 teaspoon roasted Cumin seeds aka bhuna Jeera
• ½ tablespoon Chat masala
• 1 teaspoon black Salt aka kala namak
• ⅓ cup Sugar
• ¼ cup Water

• Ice cubes as required
• Soda water as required

• 4 tablespoons Masala paste
• 8-10 Ice cubes
• 200 ml chilled club Soda or Soda water
• Mint leaves for garnishing
• Lime slices for garnishing

1. First pluck the mint leaves from the stems and wash them thoroughly.
2. Take a small jar of a grinder and add 12-14 mint leaves, peeled ½ inch ginger pieces into the jar.
3. Add 1 teaspoon roasted cumin seeds, 8 black peppercorns, ½ tablespoon chat masala and 1 teaspoon black salt, one by one into the jar.
4. Add ⅓ cup sugar, fresh lime juice of 2 limes or 4 tablespoons lime juice into the jar. Squeeze lime juice with a lime squeezer directly into the jar. If you don’t have a lime squeezer, then squeeze the lemon with your hand separately in a bowl and strain the juice before use. Make sure there is no pulp or seed in the juice.
5. Add little ¼ cup water into the jar to pulse the masala easily. Pulse it to a smooth paste.

1. Now take a glass and add 4 tablespoons masala paste into it.
2. Add 8-10 ice cubes into the glass. You can add a number of ice cubes accordingly.
3. Pour 200 ml chilled club soda into the glass slowly. You need to be careful at this stage because if you pour it fast then the bubbles may come out of the glass and it will be messy.
4. Stir the drink slowly once and it’s ready to serve now.
5. Garnish the masala soda recipe with some mint leaves and serve it immediately.

Prepare the masala soda recipe and serve it immediately. Garnish it with some mint leaves and lime slices. Serve chilled and enjoy every sip of the delicious and refreshing summer drink with either spicy food or simply to cool off.

Masala nimbu soda | Masala soda recipe | Masala lemon soda recipe

Serves: 3 Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 0 Minutes 0 Minutes

Nutrition facts: NA calories NA fat

Rating: 5.0/5

( 1 voted )

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Ingredients

1 cup = 250 ml

For the masala paste

• 12-14 Mint leaves aka Pudina
• 2 Limes or 4 tablespoons freshly squeezed Lime juice
• ½ inch Ginger, peeled and small diced
• 8 black Peppercorns aka Kali Mirch
• 1 teaspoon roasted Cumin seeds aka bhuna Jeera
• ½ tablespoon Chat masala
• 1 teaspoon black Salt aka kala namak
• ⅓ cup Sugar
• ¼ cup Water

Other ingredients

• Ice cubes as required
• Soda water as required

(For 1 glass serving)

• 4 tablespoons Masala paste
• 8-10 Ice cubes
• 200 ml chilled club Soda or Soda water
• Mint leaves for garnishing
• Lime slices for garnishing

Instructions

1. First pluck the mint leaves from the stems and wash them thoroughly.
2. Take a small jar of a grinder and add 12-14 mint leaves, peeled ½ inch ginger pieces into the jar.
3. Add 1 teaspoon roasted cumin seeds, 8 black peppercorns, ½ tablespoon chat masala and 1 teaspoon black salt, one by one into the jar.
4. Add ⅓ cup sugar, fresh lime juice of 2 limes or 4 tablespoons lime juice into the jar. Squeeze lime juice with a lime squeezer directly into the jar. If you don’t have a lime squeezer, then squeeze the lemon with your hand separately in a bowl and strain the juice before use. Make sure there is no pulp or seed in the juice.
5. Add little ¼ cup water into the jar to pulse the masala easily. Pulse it to a smooth paste.

For 1 glass serving

1. Now take a glass and add 4 tablespoons masala paste into it.
2. Add 8-10 ice cubes into the glass. You can add a number of ice cubes accordingly.
3. Pour 200 ml chilled club soda into the glass slowly. You need to be careful at this stage because if you pour it fast then the bubbles may come out of the glass and it will be messy.
4. Stir the drink slowly once and it's ready to serve now.
5. Garnish the masala soda recipe with some mint leaves and serve it immediately.