Bunta Beer, the UK’s first non-alcoholic Indian craft beer, specially brewed to complement bold, flavourful Indian food, has launched in London.
Gunikka Ahuja with her creation, Bunta Beer
Bunta Beer was founded last year by 27-year-old Gunikka Ahuja, who was born in New Delhi. She moved to Los Angeles at 17, and later settled in London. The beer is alcohol-free (0.5% ABV), gluten-free, vegan, and has 60 calories per 330ml can.
Bunta was developed to fill a gap — a lighter, crisper lager that complements spice rather than overpowering it. Bunta’s flagship beer — a 0.5% ABV citrus lager — has been crafted to be incredibly light and refreshing, with subtle citrus notes from orange peel and a hint of coriander seed. The coriander and citrus elements also mirror flavour compounds commonly found in Indian cooking.
The name ‘Bunta’ nods to Indian culture. In North India, Bunta refers to the marble used to seal traditional codd-neck bottles, especially for the lemon-based drink Banta Soda, known for its refreshing citrusy ‘pop’ — a drink enjoyed by Ahuja in her youth.
Ahuja moved to LA at 17 to study textile technology and later worked as a textile innovation manager at Adidas. Frequent visits to her brother in London introduced her to the UK’s ‘curry and a pint’ ritual, inspiring her to create a beer that would specifically match the occasion.
Ahuja’s textile background also inspired her to create and trademark Buntatex, a biodegradable textile which transforms brewing waste into sustainable packaging, to be produced over the upcoming months into packaging and branded merchandise.
“I love spicy food and the role of Bunta is to regulate the experience of eating hot food,” said Ahuja. “Bunta cuts through the heat, cleanses the palate, and makes you ready for the next bite, while being delicious and not too carbonated to avoid that all-too-familiar bloat.
“I grew up in New Delhi in a household where food was everything; it wasn’t just about eating, it was ritual. Sunday biryanis, big family meals, hosting — food was how we connected. Beer was always on the table, too, even though my parents didn’t really drink. That contrast — food being deeply cultural, and beer just being a default — always stayed with me.”
She added: “I started to visit London a few years ago and couldn’t wait to sample the Indian food on offer here. Whether it was the curry houses I visited on Brick Lane, or more modern spots, the food had evolved, but the beer hadn’t.
“Before I’d even started eating, I’d already switched to a soft drink. I told my brother: ‘I think I just need to make my own Indian beer.’ He laughed and said: ‘Our food deserves better.’ That was the moment Bunta was born.”
The stubby pink can features a punchy cartoon-style graphic of Ahuja’s brother. She explained: “My brother is my best friend — we’ve always been treated as equals. Having him on the can wasn’t just a design choice, it was deeply personal.
“The character represents a new generation of drinkers who don’t feel the need to drink alcohol to be part of the moment. It could be anyone you see in Shoreditch or Brixton, culturally rooted, making different choices.”
