Bombay Banta Black Jeera Masala Soda
Published
Bombay Banta Black Jeera Soda is a sweetened carbonated drink flavoured with cumin, lemon juice concentrate and salt. It scores EC4: nutrition is lowest because it carries no declared protein, fibre or minerals, ingredients are middling because of caramel colour, flavouring and a preservative, and risk is high from sugar and sodium. Best as an occasional drink, shared rather than finished alone.
Ingredients, decoded
7 listed- Carbonated Water
- Sugar
- Lemon Juice Concentrate (2.1%)
- Acidity Regulators (INS 330)
- Salt
- Cumin Powder and Preservative (INS 211)
- Contains Permitted Natural Colour (150d) And Added Flavours (Natural and Nature Identical Flavouring Substances) *Equivalent to 7% Lemon Juice
2 teaspoons of sugar in every 100 ml · 9.2 g total sugar, 5 g a teaspoon
| Energy | 37.5 kcal |
|---|---|
| Carbohydrates | 9.4 g |
| Total sugars | 9.2 g |
| Added sugars | 7.3 g |
| Sodium | 168.2 mg |
Think this score is wrong?
What to know about Bombay Banta Black Jeera Masala Soda
A cumin-spiced soda with 9 g sugar per 100 ml
Bombay Banta Black Jeera Soda is a 250 ml carbonated drink built from carbonated water, sugar, lemon juice concentrate (2.1%), citric acid, salt and cumin powder. It is held with sodium benzoate, coloured with caramel (150d) and flavoured with natural and nature-identical flavours. It is sold at a low price point as a spicy, tangy soda to drink cold or with meals.
Per 100 ml the pack declares 37.45 kcal, 9.18 g total sugar (7.34 g of it added) and 168.18 mg sodium. The pack prints two servings of 125 ml per bottle, so one serve is about 47 kcal, 9.2 g added sugar and 210 mg sodium. There is no protein or fat declared and no fibre or minerals.
The pack says it is a carbonated beverage with fruit juice, equivalent to 7% lemon juice. The list shows the lemon juice concentrate itself at 2.1%, and cumin has no percentage. The cumin and salt give it the savoury, jeera-soda taste, but sugar is still the second ingredient. CleanPlate scores it EC4.
Why Bombay Banta Black Jeera Masala Soda scores EC4
Nutrition is an E because nothing in the drink adds protein, fibre or minerals. Ingredients are a C because of caramel colour and flavouring. Risk is a 4, driven by 9.18 g sugar per 100 ml and then sodium.
Very low nutrient density
- Protein
- Not declared
- Fibre
- Not declared
- Vitamins and minerals
- None declared
- Energy
- 37 kcal
01 Nutrition density: why E
Nothing in the drink earns nutrition credit. No protein contributor is identified, no fibre is declared and no vitamins or minerals are listed. The 37.45 kcal per 100 ml come almost entirely from sugar.
Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal. Protein also has to supply at least 12.5% of the calories to count, and 25% for full credit.
Mixed processing and additives
- Base
- Carbonated Water
- Sweeteners
- Sugar
- Additives
- 2
- Flagged
- Sodium Benzoate, Caramel Colour (Class IV)
02 Ingredient integrity: why C
Carbonated water leads, then sugar, then lemon juice concentrate at 2.1%. Cumin powder is listed with no percentage, which costs a small label point, and nothing on the pack is a hollow promise.
The nature-identical flavouring and the caramel colour 150d (sulphite ammonia caramel) cost ingredient points, with the caramel colour costing more. Sodium benzoate (211) and citric acid (330) are listed but cost nothing in the grade. No hydrogenated fat is present.
Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.
High risk
- Added sugar
- 7.3 g
- Sodium
- 168.2 mg
03 Load risk: why 4
Sugar is the main driver: 9.18 g per 100 ml, which is about 23 g in a 250 ml bottle. Because the lemon juice concentrate is listed, the sugar counted is the full 9.18 g and not only the 7.34 g declared as added.
Sodium adds to it at 168.18 mg per 100 ml, about 420 mg a bottle. Saturated fat, trans fat and energy play no part in the grade.
Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.
Red flags
- −Red flag: High added sugar (7.3g per 100ml)
- −Red flag: Contains Sodium Benzoate
- −Red flag: Contains Caramel Colour (Class IV)
Green flags
Nothing stands out in its favour.
Does Bombay Banta Black Jeera Masala Soda live up to its claims?
The lemon juice and cumin are real but small, and the equivalent-to-7%-lemon-juice line needs context: the concentrate itself is 2.1%. The natural colour is caramel (150d), which costs ingredient points.
- Product namePartly true
“Black Jeera Soda”
Cumin powder is in the list, but with no percentage declared. Sugar and salt are the larger part of the flavour, along with added flavours.
- On the packPartly true
“Carbonated Beverage with Fruit Juice”
Lemon juice concentrate is real but small, at 2.1% of the drink. Water and sugar make up most of it.
- On the packBe careful
“Equivalent to 7% Lemon Juice”
The concentrate is listed at 2.1%, and the 7% is what that concentrate is equivalent to when reconstituted. It does not mean 7% lemon juice by volume.
- On the packBe careful
“Contains Permitted Natural Colour (150d)”
The colour is 150d, sulphite ammonia caramel. It is a permitted colour, but it is an industrial caramel and costs ingredient points.
What's in Bombay Banta Black Jeera Masala Soda?
Carbonated water, sugar and a small amount of lemon juice concentrate lead the list. Watch the sugar, the sodium and the caramel colour.
The ingredient list, read for you
Carbonated water leads, followed by sugar, so this is a sweetened soda first. Lemon juice concentrate (2.1%) and citric acid give the tang, salt and cumin powder give the savoury spice, and sodium benzoate (211) keeps it. Caramel colour (150d) gives the dark tone, and natural and nature-identical flavours finish the taste.
Ingredients to watch
- SugarConcern
9.18 g per 100 ml, of which 7.34 g is declared as added. A 250 ml bottle has about 23 g, and one 125 ml serve has about 11.5 g.
- Caramel colour 150d and flavouringWorth watching
Sulphite ammonia caramel and nature-identical flavouring both cost ingredient points.
- SodiumWorth watching
168.18 mg per 100 ml, about 210 mg per 125 ml serve and 420 mg a bottle, from the added salt.
- Sodium benzoate (211)Worth watching
A preservative that is listed on the pack. It costs nothing in the ingredient grade, but it is worth knowing about.
- Lemon juice and cuminFine
Both are real ingredients: lemon juice concentrate at 2.1% and cumin powder, though only in small amounts.
What it doesn’t have
- No protein, fibre, vitamins or minerals are declared on the panel.
- No percentage is given for the cumin powder.
Who should eat Bombay Banta Black Jeera Masala Soda?
An occasional drink for most adults, shared if possible. Children and anyone with a heart condition should have it rarely, given the sugar and sodium in each serve.
- Most adultsOccasionally
About 23 g sugar in a 250 ml bottle, with no nutrients alongside.
- Children and teensRarely
9.18 g sugar per 100 ml, plus a caramel colour and added flavouring.
- PregnancyOccasionally
No caffeine is listed, but a bottle adds about 23 g sugar and 420 mg sodium.
- Heart conditionsRarely
420 mg sodium a bottle, plus sugar and no nutritional offset.
Bombay Banta Black Jeera Masala Soda: common questions
What is the CleanPlate score of Bombay Banta Black Jeera Masala Soda?
Bombay Banta Black Jeera Soda is a sweetened carbonated drink flavoured with cumin, lemon juice concentrate and salt. It scores EC4: nutrition is lowest because it carries no declared protein, fibre or minerals, ingredients are middling because of caramel colour, flavouring and a preservative, and risk is high from sugar and sodium. Best as an occasional drink, shared rather than finished alone. Nutrition E, ingredients C, load risk 4; nutrition and ingredients run A to E, risk runs 1 to 5, and A and 1 are best.
How many calories and how much protein are in Bombay Banta Black Jeera Masala Soda?
Per 100 ml, Bombay Banta Black Jeera Masala Soda has 37 kcal, 9.4 g carbohydrate, 7.3 g added sugar and 168 mg sodium. One serve (125 ml, half a 250 ml bottle) has 47 kcal.
What are the ingredients in Bombay Banta Black Jeera Masala Soda?
7 ingredients, in label order: Carbonated Water, Sugar, Lemon Juice Concentrate (2.1%), Acidity Regulators (INS 330), Salt, Cumin Powder and Preservative (INS 211), Contains Permitted Natural Colour (150d) And Added Flavours (Natural and Nature Identical Flavouring Substances) *Equivalent to 7% Lemon Juice. Flagged: Sodium Benzoate (low concern), Caramel Colour (Class IV) (low concern).
Does Bombay Banta Black Jeera Masala Soda live up to its claims?
4 claims checked: 2 are partly true, 2 need care. "Black Jeera Soda" is partly true: Cumin powder is in the list, but with no percentage declared. Sugar and salt are the larger part of the flavour, along with added flavours. "Carbonated Beverage with Fruit Juice" is partly true: Lemon juice concentrate is real but small, at 2.1% of the drink. Water and sugar make up most of it.
Who should limit Bombay Banta Black Jeera Masala Soda?
Most adults: occasionally. About 23 g sugar in a 250 ml bottle, with no nutrients alongside. Children and teens: rarely. 9.18 g sugar per 100 ml, plus a caramel colour and added flavouring. Pregnancy: occasionally. No caffeine is listed, but a bottle adds about 23 g sugar and 420 mg sodium.
How much sugar, salt and saturated fat does Bombay Banta Black Jeera Masala Soda have?
Per 100 ml, Bombay Banta Black Jeera Masala Soda has 7.3 g added sugar and 168 mg sodium (about 0.4 g salt). The FSSAI and UK FSA "high" lines are 5 g added sugar, 300 mg sodium and 2.5 g saturated fat per 100 ml. It is high in sugar.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label. Spotted a mistake? .
Label read on 31 October 2026, from photos of the pack. If the pack has changed since, tell us.
Score history (1)
| Date | Score | Method | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 October 2026 | EC4 | v5.0 | First scored |
Every change to this score is logged. See corrections and the method changelog.
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