SINGLE MALTS VS SURTI BATLIS...........
With state of the art golf grounds planned to sprout up around Tapi town, in Hazira and Navsari, the Lala lobby is set to take tee for two lessons so that they may score a birdie and put one –in –the hole, before their business rivals do.Internationally, Scotland is known as the ‘Home of Golf’ but of course, it is more popular for its prime product, Scotch whiskey, especially single malts.

’Whiskey’ comes from the Latin root word aqua vitae meaning ‘water of life’.Surat’s water of life is definitely the Tapi, our purans state’ Tapi nu jaman ne Kashi nu maran’,its waters are known for lending taste to all Surti food and drink. The single malts of Scotland are bifurcated by their regions, speyside- that makes the smoothest, most outstanding malts, followed by highlands, lowlands and Islay. Surat has no such distinction; all its areas are popular for making their special Surti treats, be it Ved road or Harinagar.

Scotland has the largest variety of Scotch in the world while Surat along with food, is also home to the widest choice in bubbly drinks. [Cola not champagne, silly] Not only do we have India’s oldest, fizzy products to please Surti palates but also the most innovative ones like ‘falsa’,’pineax’,’kafura’. ’Batlis’ as Surtis call it, are bottles of soft drinks, available through town in different avtaars.

It is difficult to get your hands on authentic single malt and in our case of a dry state, legally impossible as well. Surti ‘batlis’ however, are available nineteen to the dozen from Adajan to Bhagal, Varaccha to Dumas, and Piplod to Ring road. Crates of chilled fizz are easily found in all nooks and corners of the city. Also known as’Thanda peena’,’colddrinks’’mickcher’,’sodalemon’etc., locally, they have found their way into paan shops and road side kiosks as well. Best served chilled, they rest on raw ice from Nanpura’s Machiwaad ice factories.

The biggest complication with single malts is the way their names are pronounced, Glenfiddich, Glenlivet,Glenmorangie,Lagavulin,Talsiker etc.Surti batlis have no fuss fizz names, in Kashmira, citrola,ginlim,try,santrola,jirola,jira mari,..........unending names and flavours you may call out at your will, whim and fancy. Although we do not have high or low lands after which malts are named, traffic islands in Tapi town are named after our batlis like Sosyo circle, Parle Point circle etc.

While malts, an acquired taste, ask for Sushi,Oyesters,dark Swiss chocolate, Cuban cigars, fancy ambience, glasses that are the correct size, a good book to browse and need to be ‘nosed ‘to enjoy their smoky flavours, Surti colas can be had anytime ,anywhere, with any cuisine, preferably directly from the bottle. We have appetizers, and digestive drinks as well as some that go superbly well to wash down Gujarati gourmet meals.

The process of manufacturing single malt takes years to get it to develop its peaty taste, in the full bodied barrel that the barley is stored in. Surti batlis are instantly made at Bhatar with handmade soda bottle makers, where you can have a ‘kanchey wali’ marble sealed, kala khatta ,kesri or jaljira batli,multi flavours also made by Hil-Mil ,Prince ,He-man ,Ganesh and Simla in old city areas.

An enterprising, young, Surti entrepreneur, now in London, is going to provide authentic single malts online, with a door step delivery anywhere in India. Surtis will take satisfaction in the fact that Seep cold drinks and juice centre; will continue to serve their prime batli product-‘Pepiyo piyo, mast jeevo.’

TAPI TOWN TATTLE-What did the downslide of share markets and real estate make Surti Lalas do? Get back to business, Spin more yarn!

WHISKEY? NO,SOSYO-INDIA’S FIRST SWADESHI SOFT DRINK

If there is one Indian aerated drink that has been holding up fort against American colas,it has to be Sosyo.Yes apnu own Surti soft drink,’a drink which has to be drunk thrice, in a glass full of ice ,to get the taste of spice’as the followers say.

Sosyo was born in Surat in 1927 during the ‘Swadeshi’ movement when Gandhiji called for a ban on imported products,Mr.Mohsin.Hajoori introduced it as the Indian option to the U.K. drink, ‘vimto’ which the Hajoori company’s founder, Mr.Abdul Hajoori was marketing in India since 1923.

Originally called ‘Whisky No’ ,to attract both alcoholics and teetotallers,it was bottled with a London made soda maker at first and later on Indian,semi automatic hand filled soda makers, sealed with a marble ,in a factory that was set up in Salabatpura by Hajoori and sons.Marketed by the manufacturers in bullock carts that set out to surrounding villages,selling the swadeshi product.

‘whiskey no’ the interesting name was derived from the fact that sosyo tastes like alcohol,but is not.’It is the only non alcoholic beverage that tastes like a perfect mix of whiskey,rum and soda.’ says Dhiren Shah,a die hard Sosyo fan.
'It is not a cola but a non alcoholic cocktail',smiles Usha Kapadia ,who has been relishing it since the past 52 years,'I remember the old bottle with a sticker on it and foil on top.'

This popular drink later derived its present name from the Latin word ‘socious’,since it became a social drink.
‘A heady mixture of grape and apple cider with some ingredients that are imported from Germany and Italy and also a blood building agent.Anything in excess is harmful,but nothing acts as a better digestive to Surti food . ‘proudly claims owner Mr.Abaas Hajoori who heads the Surat bottling plant,now at Sosyo circle,Udhna Magdalla road ,the only place where the secret mixture is concocted,’our bottles now have a pvc seal for authenticity.Sosyo is best served chilled’

Over time,the company progressed to other drinks of which ‘Kashmira’,a digestive soda made with jeera,clove,capsicum,ginger and pepper is a very popular product.Lemee,Ginlim,Misty are other flavours that are manufactured and packaged in pet bottles and 100% fruit juices have now been introduced.

More than 50 million bottles of Sosyo are consumed in Gujarat and Maharashtra annually,where the company has its bottling plants.People from neighbouring states who visit Surat often carry bottles of Sosyo and Kashmira back. Now popular in videshi shores and stores,it is exported as far as U.A.E,South Africa,New Zealand,U.K. and the U.S.of A.

The export bottles proudly claim in bold letters’AN INDIAN DRINK’ with a tri coloured backdrop,after all, it is the first one.