'Dahi' tops, ice cream peaks at 9 pm: Inside India’s summer consumption patterns

According to the latest Instamart Summer Trends 2026 Report, Indians are moving away from experimenting with their summer consumptions towards ritual-driven in India. This report, which covers orders made between March 1 and April 11, 2026, describes the trends that Indian families follow when it gets warmer.

Based on Instamart’s findings, there is a distinct seasonality of consumptions where the products such as curd, mangoes, and ice creams are most consumed, along with evening indulgences around 9 pm.

'Dahi' overtakes indulgence staples in summer baskets

One of the most notable findings is the dominance of 'dahi'. 'Dahi' has become the most-ordered summer product as compared to colas and even ice creams, with six out of ten most ordered being made from curd. It is clear that people have developed a liking for traditional food items.

The use of fresh fruits is also increasing, with people opting for watermelons, muskmelons, and other types of fruits.

India’s 9 pm ice cream ritual is now a pattern

Ice cream consumption has formed a clear behavioural peak at 9 pm across cities, making it the most consistent nightly indulgence. Demand in the evening window (6–9 PM) more than doubles, with weekends amplifying the trend further.

Family-sized tubs remain the most popular format, followed by cones, sticks, cups, and kulfi. Chocolate continues to dominate flavours, accounting for nearly 28% of all ice cream orders—about 1 in 4—comfortably ahead of vanilla, butterscotch, and mango.

Bengaluru leads ice cream consumption

City-wise data shows Bengaluru as India’s leading ice cream market, contributing 14 per cent of national demand. It is followed by Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Delhi, Kolkata, Kochi, and Gurgaon.

However, smaller cities are emerging as high-intensity consumption hubs. Central Goa, Thrissur, Thiruvalla, Nagercoil, and Manipal show higher per-user order frequency, indicating strong engagement beyond metros.

Big summer carts reflect extreme cooling habits

The report also highlights unusually high-value summer baskets across cities:

• Guntur’s top spender crossed Rs 15,005, fueled mainly by energy drinks and mini fans
• Central Goa's spending on coconut water, kulfi, mangoes, and cold drinks was Rs 11,672
• The largest basket in Bengaluru was Rs 11,000, driven by cold coffee, buttermilk, mangoes, and ice cream
• Ice creams and beverages in Hyderabad were favoured, crossing Rs 11,000 mark
• Mangoes, yogurt, coconut water, and ice creams were balanced in Kolkata's largest basket crossing Rs 10,600

Mango season arrives early, led by Sindhu variety

Mango consumption is already surging even before Alphonso season peaks. Sindhu mango leads current demand, followed by Banganapalli and raw mangoes.

Growth is particularly strong in tier 2 and tier 3 markets. Kozhikode (+358 per cent) and Madurai (+231 per cent) are among the fastest-growing mango markets, while Bengaluru leads overall consumption ahead of Hyderabad and Chennai.

Festive occasions such as Ugadi and Gudi Padwa further accelerate early-season demand before mangoes become a daily staple through summer holidays.

Jeera soda and cold coffee drive beverage reinvention

India’s summer beverage preferences are also shifting beyond traditional colas. Jeera masala soda surged 900 per cent month-on-month, while cold coffee rose nearly 700 per cent, reflecting a growing preference for café-style and functional drinks.

Other beverages such as coconut water, buttermilk, lassi, and milkshakes also recorded strong growth, typically peaking in the same 6–9 pm window as ice cream.

Regional tastes define India’s summer map

While dahi remains a national constant, regional preferences continue to shape consumption:

• Ahmedabad & Rajkot: buttermilk, ice cream, soft drinks
• Bengaluru & Mumbai: watermelon and muskmelon-led baskets
• Chandigarh: lassi-driven consumption
• Chennai & Kochi: fruit-heavy orders dominated by watermelon and muskmelon
• Delhi & Lucknow: buttermilk-led summer cooling
• Hyderabad & Pune: balanced mix of fruits, curd, and beverages

Cooling-first India, ritual-heavy consumption

The report concludes that Indian summer consumption is not impulsive but ritualised—built around familiarity, timing, and comfort. From nightly ice cream routines to dahi-led meals and mango-heavy afternoons, consumers are clearly sticking to what works rather than experimenting widely.

As temperatures rise, India’s digital grocery behaviour shows a simple pattern: the hotter it gets, the more predictable—and structured—the cravings become.