The Salty, Sweet, 4-Ingredient Soda To Keep You Hydrated This Diwali

As people across the world begin gearing up for Diwali, popularly known as the festival of the lights, it is important to have refreshments in mind for the five-day autumn celebration. Not unlike the way beer is an iconic component of St. Patrick's Day celebrations, nimbu soda is the perfect drink to prep for Diwali. Whether you enjoy it as a welcome or goodbye to warmer weather, nimbu soda is delicious. Though it's a blend of citrus juice and soda water at its core, there are additional ingredients and preparation methods that make this refreshing beverage uniquely satisfying.

All you need to make this soda at home are four ingredients: soda water, lime juice, sugar, and kala namak, also known as Himalayan black salt. Similarly to how ice is the key to grilling juicer burgers, the secret to perfectly satisfying nimbu soda is how the ice is prepared. The best nimbu soda begins with a cup of ice filled with water. The water is then strained out to create wet ice, which helps keep the bubbly carbonation of the soda water from escaping. An added bonus of filling the glass with water first is that the cup itself will be chilled, making the beverage even more frosty and refreshing.

While the iced soda water of nimbu soda keeps you hydrated, other flavorful components keep you returning for more. Combine the lime juice, kala namak (black salt), and sugar and stir them completely until they've dissolved. Then, pour the mixture over your wet ice.

The black salt may be tricky for some to find, but it's worth the effort of sourcing it, as it offers earthy, savory notes when added in moderation, making it a key addition. However, due to its sulfuric compounds, adding too much kala namak could leave your nimbu soda with accents of hard boiled egg. When the ratios are right, the flavors of black salt are perfectly balanced by the acidity of lime juice and sweetness of sugar.

After adding the mixture to the cup, top it all off with soda water. If your soda water is canned, this could be the perfect time to try a hack for pouring the perfect can of soda. After giving the beverage a quick stir and topping it off with a little extra soda water as you see fit (plus other add-ins you desire, like fresh mint), your nimbu soda is ready!