Thums Up was created in India in 1977 after Coca-Cola left that market.
Coca-Cola withdrew from India in 1977 after a dispute involving the country’s foreign-exchange regulations and requirements to disclose its secret formula. Indian beverage company Parle introduced Thums Up that same year, creating a strongly carbonated cola with a distinctive spicy flavor profile.
When Coca-Cola re-entered India in 1993, it acquired Parle’s soft-drink brands, including Thums Up, Limca, and Gold Spot. Coca-Cola later promoted Thums Up as a separate brand rather than simply replacing it with Coca-Cola. Thums Up became particularly associated with its powerful taste and adventurous advertising.
Limca is another Parle brand acquired by Coca-Cola, but it is a lemon-lime drink rather than a cola. Maaza is a fruit beverage, while Kinley is a Coca-Cola water brand. These distinctions make Thums Up the specific answer to the historical question.