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Paneer soda (rose soda)
பன்னீர் சோடா: rose syrup and fizzing soda, the pink cooler of Tamil Nadu's old marble-bottle soda shops
Every Tamil town once had a soda shop with crates of Codd-neck bottles sealed by a glass marble, and the pop of the marble being pushed down was the sound of a hot afternoon. Paneer here means rose water, not cheese, and paneer soda is rose syrup topped with that sharp local fizz, sold in Madurai, Tiruchi and Coimbatore by the bus stand and at temple festival stalls in Chithirai and Vaikasi, the hottest months. It is sweet and floral at first, then the bubbles and a touch of lime cut through and leave the mouth clean. The mistake most people make is boiling the rose water with the sugar: the scent cooks away and you are left with plain syrup. Make the syrup first, let it cool, and only then stir in the rose water. The syrup is ready when it is clear and slightly thickened, like thin honey, and the finished drink should be rosy pink and still foaming as you hand it over. Chef's tip: chill the syrup, the soda and the glasses well; warm soda loses its fizz the moment it meets the syrup.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the rose syrup
- 5 ½ oz sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 tbsp lime juiceor a pinch of citric acid
- 2 tbsp rose waterfood-grade; strengths vary, so add to taste
- 1 drop red or pink food colour (optional)
To finish
- 3 ¼ cups chilled soda water
- 8 ice cubes (optional)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Put 5 ½ oz sugar and ½ cup water in a small pan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then simmer for 5 minutes until the syrup is clear and slightly thick, like thin honey.
6 minStep 2: Take the pan off the heat and stir in 1 tbsp lime juice, which stops the syrup crystallising and sharpens the flavour.
1 minStep 3: Let the syrup cool completely, about 10 minutes in a cold-water bath. Stir in 2 tbsp rose water and 1 drop red or pink food colour; it should smell strongly of roses.
10 minStep 4: For each glass, pour 3–4 tbsp of syrup over 8 ice cubes, then top with about 200 ml of the 3 ¼ cups chilled soda water, pouring down the side of the glass. Stir once gently and serve while it is still fizzing.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 150 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 38 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does paneer soda (rose soda) take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of lime juice?
- Lemon juice, same amount.
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