Aam Panna by The Original Shikanji Co Is Very Refreshing!

Aam panna, nimbu pani, and coconut water are your best friends during the hot Indian summer. But if you’re someone who doesn’t have the time or facility to make some fresh aam panna at home, can The Original Shikanji Co’s Aam Panna prove to be the refreshing solution?

We evaluated this product on taste, refreshment factor, similarity to homemade aam panna, and its ingredient list.  The ingredient list was also checked.

Read our review of The Original Shikanji Co Aam Panna and decide if this is a good purchase. 

Product highlights of The Original Shikanji Co Aam Panna: 

What are we looking for? A refreshing, homestyle aam panna with a balance of tart and sweet flavors.

The parameters we set for The Original Shikanji Co’s Aam Panna review are:

1. Taste

Aam panna, inherently, is a mix of sweet and slightly sour flavors from the mangoes used to make it. There’s also the addition of sugar, and spices like cumin and rock salt. Some may also add mint leaves for that pleasing lush green color. 

How was the balance here?

2. Consistency 

Thick and fibrous/pulpy or thin and strained – how was the consistency and mouthfeel of this aam panna. When it comes to consistency, it can swing both ways and one is not better than the other – it’s purely subjective.

3. Other Parameters 

We also checked for parameters that are important for the whole picture, but not strong individually that they become deciding factors. These include – ingredients, calories, price and packaging. 

Price + Packaging 

A 200 ml bottle of this aam panna retails at a price of Rs. 80. The shelf life is 9 months from the date of manufacture. The Original Shikanji Co Aam Panna has a glass bottle packaging. 

Some points to keep in mind before consumption: 

1. Make sure you shake this well before consumption as the heavier particles and masala tend to settle at the bottom. 
2. It is best consumed chilled.

Main Ingredients 

The key ingredients are : Water, Aam panna crush 21% (Mango pulp (51%), Sugar syrup, Sea salt, Spices and condiments, Acidity regulators (INS330)), and permitted class II preservatives (INS 224).

Contains fruit pulp, permitted synthetic food colors (INS 133, INS 102) and added flavors (natural and nature identical flavoring substances (Aam panna)).

A detailed look at the ingredient list highlights the use of preservatives, acidity regulators and added flavors. There are also synthetic food colors involved in the preparation of this aam panna drink.

Know your ingredients: 

Permitted Class II Preservatives (INS 224) – Potassium metabisulfite (PMBS or KMBS), also known as potassium pyrosulfite, is a sulfur dioxide derivative. It acts as a preservative, antioxidant, stabilizer, and bleaching agent especially in acidic foods. These could include – wine, beer, fermented beverages, and packaged juices. 

Permitted Synthetic Food Colors – 

• INS 133 (Brilliant Blue): This adds a bright blue color to food and beverages. This is usually considered safe for consumption provided it is consumed at permitted levels. 

• INS 102 (Tartrazine) : This is usually added to provide a bright yellow color to beverages. 

The combination of these two colors has resulted in providing the desired green color to The Original Shikanji Co Aam Panna drink. 

Per 100 ml, the nutritional information is as follows: 

• Energy: 36.24 Kcal 
• Added Sugar: 6.86g

Fizzy sodas, also known as carbonated soft drinks, carry around 41 calories and have around 10 to 10.8 grams of sugar content per 100 ml. While the caloric content does not have a vast difference, the sugar content of The Original Shikanji Co Aam Panna is lower in a comparative scenario. 

Our Experience 

The aroma was a refreshing blend of mango and cumin. Visually, this drink has a striking and vibrant green color which is not usually the color of aam panna drink we associate. On the contrary, a traditional aam panna drink imparts a mucky yellow/golden-ish color. While the addition of pudina, gives it that green-ish tone. 

Flavor-wise, we liked it! This is what a homemade aam panna tastes like – REFRESHING and oh so fresh! This has a delightful tanginess of the mango combined with a touch of sweetness. The addition of salt takes our taste experience further while the cumin adds a nice earthiness to the drink. 

The consistency of this aam panna drink strikes a perfect balance. It wasn’t thick or pulpy, but it wasn’t very clear like juice either. 

Here are some interesting FAQs on The Original Shikanji Co Aam Panna:

The Original Shikanji Co’s Aam Panna is a delightful and refreshing beverage to escape from the harsh summer heat. The combination of sweet and tangy flavors complement each other well. However, some refinements in the ingredient list with the inclusion of cleaner elements would have been appreciated. 

Have you tried this yet?

Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.