Shan’s butter chicken masala cola turns out to be an April Fools’ Day prank

Islamabad: Shan Foods sparked confusion and amusement online after appearing to unveil a "Butter Chicken Masala Cola" on April 1, but the product was later revealed to be an April Fools’ Day joke.

According to Dawn, the company shared a promotional post for the supposed drink on social media, presenting it as a new flavour combination that blended cola with butter chicken masala. The unusual concept quickly drew attention, with many social media users reacting with disbelief, humour and concern over whether the product was real.

The prank played on the growing trend of brands using April Fools’ Day to launch fake products and generate engagement online. In Shan’s case, the idea of combining a fizzy soft drink with a spice mix associated with butter chicken prompted strong reactions from users who found the pairing bizarre.

Dawn reported that the campaign led some people to briefly wonder whether the company had actually decided to market the drink. The publication described the response as one of relief after it became clear that the announcement was not genuine.

The post was part of April Fools’ Day activity, when companies and public figures often share misleading but humorous announcements for a single day. Shan’s mock launch stood out because of the sheer improbability of the flavour and the brand’s straight-faced presentation of the concept.

While the prank was not a real product launch, it succeeded in attracting widespread attention online. Social media users circulated the image and commented on the idea, with the reaction driven largely by surprise that a household food brand would appear to move into such an unexpected beverage category.

Dawn’s report framed the episode as a successful example of brand humour that relied on shock value, while also underlining the public’s gratitude that the drink would not actually be appearing on store shelves.

Online reaction

The report highlighted that the fake announcement resonated because it sounded just plausible enough in an era of unconventional food collaborations, even though many users found the concept deeply unappealing. The joke worked by tapping into that uncertainty before the date itself made the punchline apparent.

As reported by Dawn, the final takeaway for many online was simple: Shan’s butter chicken masala cola was never real, and that was very much for the best.

“Butter Chicken Masala Cola”