Aam, dahi, jeera soda: What India orders when the heat kicks in
ETimes | May 1, 2026 5:39 PM CST
Indian summers don’t just arrive; they kick in with habits. The first real heatwave, and suddenly it’s dahi with every meal, mangoes by the kilo, and a quiet but consistent 9 PM ice cream craving. Instamart’s
Summer Trends 2026 report captures exactly how India orders its way through the heat, not just what’s trending, but what’s ritual. From comfort-first cooling staples to indulgent nightly treats, the data reveals a country that doesn’t experiment wildly in summer; it leans into what works.
As temperatures rose through March and April, orders across key summer categories surged almost overnight, with top products growing up to 300% week-on-week. Mangoes, cold coffees, fizzy drinks, and fruit popsicles all saw sharp jumps, reflecting how closely consumption tracks the weather. The hotter it gets, the faster India orders. Cooling appliances like fans and coolers grew upwards of 280%, while summer accessories like sunglasses grew 650% YoY, the highest growth of any category.
India’s Scorchingly Big Summer Baskets
Dahi dominates summer baskets, emerging as the most-ordered product overall, nearly matching cold drinks and ice creams. In fact, six of the top ten most-ordered items are curd-based, signalling a clear preference for some desi cooling. And it’s not just dairy. Watermelon, muskmelon, and other fresh produce are climbing fast, pointing to a summer that’s increasingly fresh, simple, and rooted in everyday habits.
The 9 PM Ice Cream Ritual Is Real
If there’s one habit India agrees on, it’s this: ice cream is a night-time affair. Across cities, 9 PM emerges as the single biggest ice cream moment, a post-dinner ritual that plays out with remarkable consistency. The evening window (6–9 PM) sees demand more than double, with weekends turning the dial even higher. And this isn’t impulse buying. Most Indians are planning their indulgence, with family-sized tubs leading the category, followed by cones, sticks/bars, cups, kulfi, among others.
Chocolate Still Reigns Supreme: Chocolate accounts for nearly 1 in 4 ice cream orders, comfortably ahead of classics like vanilla and butterscotch, and even seasonal favourite mango.
Beyond Metros, the Real Ice Cream Lovers Emerge
Bangalore is India’s Ice Cream Capital, followed by Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Delhi, Kolkata, Kochi and Gurgaon. The most loyal ice cream users aren’t always in the biggest cities. Places like Central Goa, Thrissur, Thiruvalla, Nagercoil and Manipal are clocking higher orders per user, proving that when it comes to summer indulgence, smaller cities are just as serious, if not more.
Aam Paglu season is here
Call it peak aam paglu energy. With Alphonso season only just kicking in, the first stretch of summer sees Sindhu mango as India’s most-ordered variety so far this season. Close behind, Banganapalli and raw mangoes are riding high, proving that India’s mango cravings start well before Alphonso hits full stride. Festive bursts around Ugadi and Gudi Padwa kick things off, before mangoes settle into daily life through the long school holidays.
The map is shifting, too. While metros still drive volumes, the fastest growth is coming from cities like Kozhikode, Madurai, Trichy, Vizag and Nellore. Bengaluru leads the mango mania, outpacing Hyderabad and Chennai combined, while smaller cities like Thanjavur, Pondicherry and Mangaluru are going all in on the king of fruits. Delhi and Gurgaon round off the top 10 mango-loving cities.
From Cola to Craft: How India Is Sipping Through Summer
This summer, it’s less fizz-as-usual and more flavour-first: jeera masala sodas, cold coffees, and café-style coolers are moving from niche to nightly staples. Zero-sugar and functional drinks are also seeing increasing demand. Jeera masala soda shot up 900% in March, while cold coffee surged nearly 700%. Summer beverages like coconut water, buttermilk, lassi, and milkshakes grew significantly as well. Like ice cream, drinks peak in the evening around 6:00 - 9:00pm.
City-wise Trends: Local Preferences, Shared Patterns
While dahi is a constant across India, regional preferences shape the rest of the basket:
As temperatures rose through March and April, orders across key summer categories surged almost overnight, with top products growing up to 300% week-on-week. Mangoes, cold coffees, fizzy drinks, and fruit popsicles all saw sharp jumps, reflecting how closely consumption tracks the weather. The hotter it gets, the faster India orders. Cooling appliances like fans and coolers grew upwards of 280%, while summer accessories like sunglasses grew 650% YoY, the highest growth of any category.
India’s Scorchingly Big Summer Baskets
- Guntur’s summer superfan spent a whopping ₹15,005 on beating the heat, with carts heavily dominated by energy drinks and rechargeable mini fans
- In Central Goa, one user spent ₹11,672 stocking up on coconut water, kulfi, mangoes, and cool drinks, essentially turning their cart into a beachside summer menu
- Bengaluru’s top summer spender crossed ₹11,000 on a steady rotation of cold coffee, buttermilk, mangoes, ice cream, and dahi. Peak “WFH but hydrated” behaviour
- Hyderabad’s biggest summer cart leaned fully into indulgence, with ice cream, mangoes, cool drinks, and buttermilk driving spends past ₹11K
- Kolkata’s top summer shopper spent over ₹10,600 on a mix of coconut water, mangoes, yogurt, and ice cream, balancing wellness and dessert with impressive consistency
Dahi dominates summer baskets, emerging as the most-ordered product overall, nearly matching cold drinks and ice creams. In fact, six of the top ten most-ordered items are curd-based, signalling a clear preference for some desi cooling. And it’s not just dairy. Watermelon, muskmelon, and other fresh produce are climbing fast, pointing to a summer that’s increasingly fresh, simple, and rooted in everyday habits.
The 9 PM Ice Cream Ritual Is Real
If there’s one habit India agrees on, it’s this: ice cream is a night-time affair. Across cities, 9 PM emerges as the single biggest ice cream moment, a post-dinner ritual that plays out with remarkable consistency. The evening window (6–9 PM) sees demand more than double, with weekends turning the dial even higher. And this isn’t impulse buying. Most Indians are planning their indulgence, with family-sized tubs leading the category, followed by cones, sticks/bars, cups, kulfi, among others.
Chocolate Still Reigns Supreme: Chocolate accounts for nearly 1 in 4 ice cream orders, comfortably ahead of classics like vanilla and butterscotch, and even seasonal favourite mango.
Beyond Metros, the Real Ice Cream Lovers Emerge
Bangalore is India’s Ice Cream Capital, followed by Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Delhi, Kolkata, Kochi and Gurgaon. The most loyal ice cream users aren’t always in the biggest cities. Places like Central Goa, Thrissur, Thiruvalla, Nagercoil and Manipal are clocking higher orders per user, proving that when it comes to summer indulgence, smaller cities are just as serious, if not more.
Aam Paglu season is here
Call it peak aam paglu energy. With Alphonso season only just kicking in, the first stretch of summer sees Sindhu mango as India’s most-ordered variety so far this season. Close behind, Banganapalli and raw mangoes are riding high, proving that India’s mango cravings start well before Alphonso hits full stride. Festive bursts around Ugadi and Gudi Padwa kick things off, before mangoes settle into daily life through the long school holidays.
The map is shifting, too. While metros still drive volumes, the fastest growth is coming from cities like Kozhikode, Madurai, Trichy, Vizag and Nellore. Bengaluru leads the mango mania, outpacing Hyderabad and Chennai combined, while smaller cities like Thanjavur, Pondicherry and Mangaluru are going all in on the king of fruits. Delhi and Gurgaon round off the top 10 mango-loving cities.
From Cola to Craft: How India Is Sipping Through Summer
This summer, it’s less fizz-as-usual and more flavour-first: jeera masala sodas, cold coffees, and café-style coolers are moving from niche to nightly staples. Zero-sugar and functional drinks are also seeing increasing demand. Jeera masala soda shot up 900% in March, while cold coffee surged nearly 700%. Summer beverages like coconut water, buttermilk, lassi, and milkshakes grew significantly as well. Like ice cream, drinks peak in the evening around 6:00 - 9:00pm.
City-wise Trends: Local Preferences, Shared Patterns
While dahi is a constant across India, regional preferences shape the rest of the basket:
- Ahmedabad & Rajkot: strong mix of buttermilk, ice cream, and soft drinks
- Bengaluru & Mumbai: fruit-forward carts with watermelon and muskmelon
- Chandigarh: Lassi stands out as a key summer staple
- Chennai & Kochi: muskmelon and watermelon dominate
- Delhi & Lucknow: buttermilk-led consumption
- Hyderabad & Pune: balanced mix of fruits, curd, and beverages
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