Before the days when Pepsi and Coco Cola took over the market and the small neighborhood petti kadais that sold everything from Colgate paste to Re.1 sachets of ginger-garlic paste, Fair and Lovely creams to cream of wheat there were local sodas that were our thirst quenchers in the hot Trichy summers.

Under the thatched awing extending in front of the stores I have stood a million times sipping down Bovanto and Panner Soda. A rare treat as it was deemed unhealthy at home. But my love for them never went down. Over the years, I could never pinpoint which was my favorite – Panner Soda or Bovanto.

This summer I went to India and walked store to store searching for Panner Soda in Chennai and no I was not able to find one in the area I live in. I did have the luxury of enjoying Panner Soda in Trichy. Bovanto is available in 2L bottles at certain stores in Chennai, so my parents do the hunt and stock the fridge much before I leave the US.

It shocked and pained me to see store after store having overflowing stocks of Pepsi and Cocacola company products and give a negative response when I ask for Panner Soda!

I never thought I would say this but I miss Panner Soda – the rose flavored soda in those small bottles and Bovanto – the usual cola drink with a difference.

It is time that these local brands are revived, marketed and targeted before they are forced out of business.