Masala Soda or Jeera Soda

What is masala soda?
Masala soda is a tangy, spiced lemon soda that is a popular Indian summer drink, but it can be enjoyed year round. It is quite a refreshing drink and consumed often in the summer months.
It is often referred to as jal jeera, jal means water and jeera which means cumin seeds. You can find it sold by street vendors in India in the summertime, but you can also make a glass of jeera masala soda easily at home!
It’s essentially a soft drink made most often with club soda (carbonated water) but can also be made with chilled water. The primary ingredient is roasted cumin powder. Along with that there are a few other spices, lemon juice, sugar, and fresh mint leaves to make a tasty nimbu masala soda.
Why you will love this masala soda recipe
- Delicious flavor profile | Tangy, sweet, and a touch of spice, yum!
- Simple ingredients |Use ingredients you likely have in the pantry.
- Flexible recipe |Easy to tweak to your personal preferences.
- Friendly for various diets |Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free
Ingredient Notes
To make lemon masala soda, you use a blend of Indian spices to make the masala soda powder. Then, that powder is used to make the jeera soda.
Masala Soda Powder Ingredients

Cumin seeds – Cumin seeds are roasted and then ground into a fine powder. If you have readymade roasted cumin powder or roasted jeera powder on hand you can also use that.
Black peppercorns – If possible try to use these and roast them. It gives a different flavor than just trying to use black pepper powder instead.
Chaat masala – Chaat masala adds a tart and tangy taste to this drink, don’t skip it! You can easily make chaat masala at home or find it at an Indian grocery store.
Black salt – Known as kala namak in Hindi. It is an Indian spice that gives a unique flavor.
Masala Soda Ingredients

Masala powder (from above)
Lemon juice – Fresh squeezed is best.
Sugar – Or your sweetener of choice.
Mint leaves or mint powder (optional but delicious!) – Dried mint powder can be store bought or made at home with mint leaves. If using fresh mint leaves you can blend with a little water to form a mint mixture.
Soda – Chilled soda is best! You can also use ice cubes. Water can also be used to make masala nimbu pani.
If you find it too spicy, try reducing the amount of black pepper

Making It
First make the jal jeera spice powder:
- Place cumin seeds and black peppercorns in a pan on low-medium heat. Roast for 3-4 minutes until fragrant. Mix intermittently to prevent burning.
2. Once cooled, grind cumin and black peppercorns in a spice grinder or coffee been grinder into a fine powder.
3. Sieve powder into a bowl. Grind bigger chunks again to ensure a fine powder. Note, if you don’t mind a few chunks of cumin or black pepper you can skip the sieving, but it tastes better to do it!
4. Add to the bowl the chaat masala, black salt, and mint powder (optional). Mix together to form jeera soda powder.



Then, make the drink:
Add masala soda powder, lemon juice, sugar and 1/4 cup of the seltzer soda to a serving glass. Mix well.
Top off the glass with remaining soda.
Optionally add muddled or blended mint leaves and ice cubes before serving in a tall glass.
You can also add fresh ginger or ginger powder to this drink, it is delicious

5 Minute Masala Soda or Jeera Soda
Equipment
- 1 spice grinder
- 1 Mixing bowl
Ingredients
Masala Jeera Soda Spice Blend
- ½ cup cumin seeds Can substitute roasted jeera powder if you have it ready made
- 2 tbsp black peppercorns
- 3 tbsp chaat masala
- 3 tbsp black salt
- 2 tsp mint powder optional, can also use fresh mint leaves
Masala Jeera Soda
- 2 tsp masala jeera soda spice blend made from ingredients in above spice blend section
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp sugar adjust for your preference on sweetness
- 2 cups seltzer soda unflavored is best
Instructions
Masala Soda Powder
- Place cumin seeds and black peppercorns in a pan on low-medium heat. Roast for 3-4 minutes until fragrant. Mix intermittently to prevent burning.
- Once cooled, grind cumin and black peppercorns in a spice grinder or coffee been grinder into a fine powder.
- Sieve powder into a bowl. Grind bigger chunks again to ensure a fine powder.
- Add to the bowl the chaat masala, black salt, and mint powder (optional). Mix together to form jeera soda powder.
Masala Soda
- Add masala soda powder, lemon juice, sugar and 1/4 cup of the seltzer soda. Mix well.
- Top off the glass with remaining soda.
- Optionally add muddled or blended mint leaves and ice cubes before serving.