Limca

Limca
The Limca logo
The Limca logo
TypeLemon-lime soda
ManufacturerThe Coca-Cola Company
Country of origin India
Introduced1977
Related productsCoca-Cola, 7 Up, Sprite
A bottle of Limca.

Limca is an Indian multinational brand of lemon- and lime-flavoured carbonated soft drink made primarily in India and certain parts of the U.S. It contains 60 calories per 150ml can. The formula does not include fruit, relying instead on artificial flavours.

In an interview in 2008, Ramesh Chauhan of Parle Bisleri revealed that he had approached the owners of Duke's Lemonade, requesting them to share the formula for the drink with the promise not to make it in India, which was turned down. Chauhan decided to come up with his own formula, which he launched under the Limca brand in 1977.[1]

In 1992, when the Indian government allowed Coca-Cola to return for operations, at the same time as it admitted Pepsi for the first time, Coca-Cola bought local soft-drink (soda) brands, from Parle Bisleri owner Ramesh Chauhan including Limca, Thums Up (a cola-like drink), Maaza (a mango-juice based drink), Citra (a clear lemon-lime drink), and Gold Spot (orange flavour).[2][3]

Prior to 1988, the original formula of Limca contained brominated vegetable oil (BVO). After worldwide reports of ill effects of BVO, its use in soft drinks was banned in India. As a result of this ban, the formula for Limca was changed.

  1. ^ "'Coca-Cola is neglecting beautiful Limca'". Daily News and Analysis. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  2. ^ Pande, Bhanu; Bhushan, Ratna (2011-12-04). "From household names to forgotten history: Story of India's grand old brands such as Binaca, Dalda & Moti Soaps". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
  3. ^ "Coca-Cola rolls out new digital campaign "Nichord Le" for homegrown brand Limca". Financialexpress. Retrieved 2023-04-06.