Hi,
Loved that Limca. Mike hit it right on the spot comparing it to Fresca. It was very much like the original Fresca with the cloudiness, all it needed to go fully Fresca of old would be a few bits of pulp floating about. In the past, we have chased after Mexican Coke, we now have straight from India: Limca. My brother-in-law is from India, I mentioned to him the Limca I had for lunch. He mentioned another very popular drink, similar to Coke though more fizzy, I cannot remember the name this moment (it might be Thumbs Up - I'll check) but bottles of it were right next to Limca in their refrigerator.
We've actually discussed Limca before on this forum - coincidentally the last
time Hyderabad House came up in discussion
That was during a
"Midnight Meanderings" thread that can be found at:
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=1068&start=0The review of Limca this time is a lot better - the last time it was described
as "Lemon Pledge mixed with soda water"
This "Coca Cola Product" bit also came up then - and it is, but not originated
by Coke, only bought out by them in the past decade. As mentioned in
the above thread...
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"I also ordered a Limca soda, an Indian product of the Coca-Cola Company. The label claims the beverage contains "no fruit juice." I believe it. If you mixed Lemon Pledge with soda water, it might taste something like this. In one corner of the room, a self-serve cooler provided water. "
Limca isnt really a true product of Coca-Cola, its just owned by them. Basically
India had Coca-Cola way back, in the 1960s and 1970s, and then they
got booted out of the country in 1977 when a socialist government won the
election (to much mourning among all kids I knew, we all liked Coke and
its products, my fave as a kid used to be "Fanta" and its no fun to have your
fave drink taken away from you for good when youre still a kid. Anyway).
When Coke went away, only the indigenous products were left - "Thums Up"
was the Coke-style drink, and Limca was around, as was Mangola and
Mirinda (an orange drink). Finally Coke was let back in when the economy
was liberalised in the early 1990s, as was Pepsi. The indigenous drinks
that were established werent quite as popular anymore with their entrance,
but still commanded a bit of market-share (and probably always will) - Limca
among them. Coke bought the company that produced them in the mid-1990s,
and has kept them in production (wisely, because as I said they still retain
some market-share, even if not a huge one).
Limca isnt bad, if youre used to it - Ive had it often, and so have never
noticed the Lemon-pledge qualities Its especially good after a heavy
Indian meal, seems to aid in digesting the oily-spicy food I think.
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Wee correction, the chicken dish we ordered twice was 'Chicken 65.' For my wimpy chili appreciation, this Chicken 65 was hitting slight discomfort zone though it was otherwise very good.
Yes, HH's Chicken 65 is very good usually - but it only shows up on their
menu once in a while. Saturday's I think it is? I happened to drop by HH
yesterday and they didnt have it - ended up picking up a "Hari Mirchi Chicken"
instead, which basically translates as "Green Masala Chicken". And that
is exactly what it is - and pretty good it was, too.
Also (if Zim is reading this - I think he had mentioned Chopal Kabab House?),
dropped by Chopa after picking up from HH and got a menu. Fairly
standard, but Ive heard Chopal is pretty good (not least from a cabbie I
asked about it at HH yesterday), must try it soonish. An intersting (if over the
top) decor - you might even prefer it to Jewel of India's, Cath
Also has
pretty ornate "cushion" style seating IIRC. Chopal, BTW, is across the
street from HH, and half a block westward (sort of bang across the
street from Usmaniya and/or Daata Durbar).
c8w