9 iconic food brands that have become a part of Indian culture

Food has the power to connect people, but there are food items that not only connect you with people but with time too. And over a period of time, such foods become a legacy that is there forever. India, as a land of diversified flavours, has always celebrated such foods and though we are in the 21st century, there are foods from the last century that still exist and cheer us up their iconic flavours and memories associated with them. They are no longer considered as brands but as timeless memories. Here’s a list of 9 such brands and their offerings that have now become a part of our culture.

Founded in 1906 this sharbat brand is known for its unique taste and colour. The Indianness of the taste made it even more popular and in fact this rose flavoured syrup has since then been a part of not just drinks but also desserts.

Founded in 1929 in British India by the Chauhan family of Vile Parle, Mumbai, Parle Products Company had been manufacturing biscuits since 1939. They were the first one to introduce Gluco biscuits in independent India as an Indian alternative to the British biscuits. And slowly with time, their tiny biscuits became an inseparable part of chai time in India. Today, from chai to Horlicks, their biscuits go well with every hot beverage and probably that is what made them best-selling brand of biscuits in the world in past.

Kismi Bar is known for the innovative and iconic blend of elaichi with caramel. Introduced in the 70s, the chewy toffee bar has come a long way and at present is available in exciting flavours of kulfi, rajbhog and rose milk. Dear new generation, if you really want to know how cardamom can be super delicious, you need to try the iconic Kismi elaichi flavoured toffee bar that comes with a glossy red packaging detailed with red and black, that till date stands as the colour identity of the brand.

These rainbow-filled candies have made their own name in the food industry. Popping fun and goodness since 1950, they are fruit jelly candies that pulpy and chewy too. Available in five flavours including lychee, strawberry, kaccha aam, guava and orange, they have the capacity to brighten your eyes and taste buds too! Wondering how? Well, for that you need to try them and the pop of colours and sweet and tangy aftertaste will surely make you understand what we are trying to say.

In 1948, Cadbury Dairy Milk came to India and soon became the leader of chocolate confectionery business with a market share of over 70%. They first introduced their milk chocolate in the United Kingdom in 1905.Much cheaper than most international brands of chocolates, it is synonymous with our cultural palate now.

Maggi noodle was launched in India in 1983 and the rest is history! We have grown up loving it. So powerful has been our love for these instant noodles that when it was brawled in controversy in 2016 when Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) imposed a nationwide ban on it because of the presence of a high amount of lead and Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), people still longed for it and almost refused to believe it. Fans hailed it's coming back when the ban was lifted from it a few months later.

Rasna, as a soft drink brand was introduced to the Indian market in 1976. They are known for capturing the soft drinks market in the eighties when the market was dominated by carbonated soft drinks. The concept of a drink in a sachet was an entirely new one! Till date, they are known for their tangy flavour which many players have tried to beat, but have failed. In short, their tanginess and taste is unbeatable!

The 140-year-old story of Horlicks started in the UK, where it was invented by two British-born brothers William Horlick and James. With time they became so popular in India that soon started getting highest sales from the country. From then to now, as a popular nutritional drink in India, they have introduced many new flavours like kesar badam, elaichi, and chocolate, but their classic malt flavour is still the best.

Founded in 1946 in Anand, Gujarat, Amul is known for its dairy products. They also played a key role in spurring the White Revolution in India, which placed India at the top of milk-producing nations. You will be surprised to know that their mission was to stop the exploitation of the farmers by middlemen. Till date, from milk to cheese and ghee to chocolates, it’s a one-stop solution to our daily dairy needs, that has also been awarded the Guinness World Record for the longest-running advertisement campaign in past.