Soft Drinks
Thums Up
A freshly made South Indian favourite, prepared to order by our chefs from Chennai.
Thums Up in Orpington
Anyone who grew up with Thums Up will tell you it is not a substitute for any other cola, and they are right. It drinks drier, sharper and considerably fizzier, and at Crispy Dosa Orpington we stock it for exactly that reason.
When Coca-Cola pulled out of India in 1977, the Chauhan brothers at Parle launched Thums Up straight into the gap they left behind.
The formula leaned on spice rather than the vanilla sweetness of an American cola, and it was deliberately over-carbonated so that it still had bite when a street vendor sold it warm from a crate.
It worked. Coca-Cola bought the brand in 1993 when it returned to India, and Thums Up went on to become a billion-dollar brand in its own right, one of the few local products anywhere to hold off a global one on home ground.
The taste is drier and sharper than a standard cola, with a spiced character behind it and noticeably more aggressive carbonation. It is less sweet on the finish, and it carries caffeine.
The lower sweetness and the fizz are what let it stand up to spice. A sweeter cola flattens out next to a masala dosa or anything from the chilli end of our menu, where this one holds its shape.
It arrives from India in the 300ml glass bottle. Import freight, breakage in transit, no returnable-bottle scheme here and low turnover against Coca-Cola all sit behind the price.
The bottle is 300ml, so it is a little smaller than a 330ml can. The premium is for the import rather than the serving size, and we would rather be straight about that.
It is the drink to hand anyone who claims all colas taste the same. The carbonation alone settles the argument in the first mouthful.
We stock it alongside Limca, Frooti and Maaza, so a table can work through the full set of Indian drinks rather than settle for one.
Available to dine in at 273 High Street, Orpington, BR6 0NW, as a takeaway, or added to your online order for collection or delivery.
India's Own Cola, Served Chilled
Order Thums Up in Orpington at Crispy Dosa Orpington and try the cola that beat Coca-Cola on its own ground. It is the better fizzy match for a spiced dish, and if you have never had one it is worth the swap. Suitable for vegetarians. Call 01689 492201 to book a table, or add it to your online order.
Good to Know About Thums Up
- 300ml imported glass bottle
- spiced cola character, heavily carbonated
- contains caffeine
- suitable for vegetarians
- served chilled
