Hyderabad Turns to Ice Cream, Dahi and Mangoes to Beat the Heat
Cooling appliances such as fans have seen a rise of over 280 percent, while sunglasses recorded a 650 percent year on year increase.
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2026-04-30 14:23 GMT
Hyderabad: As temperatures rise, Hyderabad is leaning into indulgent summer cravings, with shopping carts filled with ice cream, mangoes, cool drinks and buttermilk. According to Instamart’s Summer Trends 2026 report, the city is emerging as a key market for high value summer baskets, with some orders crossing ₹11,000.
The report highlights how Indians are adapting their consumption habits during the heat, turning everyday purchases into seasonal rituals. In Hyderabad, ordering patterns reflect a balance between comfort, hydration and dessert driven indulgence. Across the country, demand for summer essentials has surged sharply, with top products growing up to 300 percent week on week. Cooling appliances such as fans have seen a rise of over 280 percent, while sunglasses recorded a 650 percent year on year increase.
Hyderabad’s biggest summer cart included ice cream, mangoes, cool drinks and buttermilk, crossing ₹11,000. Similar trends were seen across cities, with Bengaluru’s top spender also crossing ₹11,000 on cold coffee, buttermilk, mangoes, ice cream and dahi. In Guntur, a user spent over ₹15,000 on energy drinks and rechargeable mini fans, while in Central Goa and Kolkata, top summer purchases crossed ₹10,000 with a mix of coconut water, mangoes, yogurt and frozen desserts.
One of the standout trends this season is the dominance of dahi, which has emerged as a staple in summer baskets, nearly matching the demand for cold drinks and ice cream. Fresh produce such as watermelon and muskmelon has also seen a steady rise.
Ice cream continues to play a central role in summer consumption, with 9 PM emerging as the peak ordering time across India. Demand more than doubles between 6 PM and 9 PM and rises further on weekends. Family sized tubs remain popular, and chocolate continues to be the top flavour, accounting for nearly 28 percent of all orders.
Bengaluru leads the country in ice cream consumption, contributing 14 percent of the national demand, followed by Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Pune. Smaller cities such as Central Goa, Thrissur, Thiruvalla, Nagercoil and Manipal are also recording high orders per user.
Mangoes remain a defining feature of the season, with Sindhu emerging as the most ordered variety, ahead of Banganapalli and raw mangoes. The fastest growth is being seen in tier two cities such as Kozhikode and Madurai, along with Trichy, Visakhapatnam and Nellore, while Bengaluru leads overall mango demand.
The report also notes a shift in beverage preferences, with traditional options sharing space with newer choices. Jeera masala soda has seen a sharp rise of 900 percent month on month, while cold coffee has grown by nearly 700 percent. Coconut water, buttermilk, lassi and milkshakes continue to remain popular, with beverage demand peaking in the evening hours between 6 PM and 9 PM.
Overall, the trends point to a summer defined by a mix of nostalgia and new age indulgence, with Hyderabad at the centre of this seasonal shift.