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India's capital, Delhi, is well renowned for its love of cuisine, and ice cream is no different. Delhi residents have a special love for ice cream, and the city is home to some of India's most recognisable ice cream parlours. Ice cream parlours hold a unique place in the hearts of Delhi residents and have evolved into a vital component of the city's culinary scene.
When the British first brought ice cream to India in the early 20th century, Delhi developed a passion for it. It was initially a luxury good that was exclusively accessible to the affluent. Ice cream, however, steadily gained popularity among the general public as a dessert as it grew more widely available and less expensive over time.
In Delhi nowadays, ice cream parlours offer more than just ice cream; they also offer an experience. The majority of Delhi's ice cream parlours are built to give visitors a warm, welcoming environment in which to enjoy their ice cream. Especially in the summer, families, groups of friends, and couples like hanging out at these parlours.
Ice cream is not only a well-liked dessert, but it has also ingrained itself in Delhi's culinary tradition. It has come to represent joy and happiness because it is frequently served at weddings, festivals, and other events. To meet the rising demand, some Delhi ice cream parlours have even begun to provide specially made ice creams to cater to seasonal demand.
1. Amore Gelato
Amore Gelato is a well-known ice cream shop that specialises in gelato made in Italian style. Akash Sheth established the parlour in 2010, and it currently has a number of parlours throughout Delhi and the NCR. Gelato is a form of ice cream prepared with milk, sugar, and natural flavours, and Amore Gelato makes it using traditional Italian methods.
Fresh ingredients like fruit, nuts, and chocolates are used to make the gelato at Amore every day. They provide a wide selection of flavours, including more unusual ones like tiramisu, salted caramel, and hazelnut as well as more traditional ones like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. During the summer, they also provide certain seasonal flavours like mango and watermelon.
Amore Gelato's "Gelato on a Stick" concept, which involves a gelato bar that has been covered in chocolate and nuts, is one of its distinctive features. Customers who seek a portable and practical method to enjoy their gelato frequently choose this.
Amore provides a variety of different treats in addition to gelato, including sundaes, shakes, and waffles. For clients with dietary requirements, they also offer a selection of sugar-free and dairy-free choices.
Amore Gelato has a warm, welcoming setting with cheerful furnishings that adds to the upbeat vibe. Families, couples, and groups of friends who want to enjoy a delicious treat in a casual setting frequently frequent the parlour.
Amore Gelato is a fantastic choice for Delhi residents seeking delectable and genuine Italian-style gelato. It is a must-visit ice cream parlour in the city due to the premium ingredients, extensive flavour selection, and welcoming atmosphere.
2. Naturals Ice Cream
Naturals Ice Cream is a well-known ice cream company with multiple stores in Delhi and other cities. It was founded in Bombay. The company is renowned for using fresh fruit and natural ingredients in its ice creams, which are created following age-old procedures.
The flavour selection at Naturals Ice Cream is extensive and includes both traditional flavours like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry as well as more unusual ones like sitaphal (custard apple), chickoo (sapodilla), and jackfruit. Over the summer, they also provide a variety of seasonal flavours like mango, watermelon, and lychee with fresh fruit pieces incorporated into the ice cream.
Naturals Ice Cream's emphasis on using fresh fruit in its ice creams is one of its distinctive characteristics. They get their fruit from nearby farms, and they use it to make tastes like papaya, mosambi (sweet lime), and tender coconut.
3. Kuremal Mohan Lal Kulfi Wale
Kuremal Mohan Lal Kulfi Wale is a well-known ice cream shop next to Chawri Bazaar in the centre of Old Delhi. The kulfi shop has been in operation for more than a century and is renowned for its distinctive and delectable kulfis.
Kulfi is a type of frozen treat that resembles ice cream but has a creamier and thicker texture. A thick, creamy base produced by boiling milk for several hours is typically used as the foundation for this dish. Cardamom, saffron, and pistachios are then added for taste. Kuremal Mohan Lal Kulfi Wale elevates this conventional recipe by adding fresh fruit to their kulfis.
The stuffed kulfi, a variety of kulfi that is packed with fresh fruit, is the most popular taste at Kuremal Mohan Lal Kulfi Wale. The kulfi mixture is scooped into the fruit, which is then frozen after being filled. The kulfi is cut open when it is served to display the fresh fruit inside. Mango, pineapple, and orange varieties of stuffed kulfis are some of the most well-liked ones.
Kuremal Mohan Lal Kulfi Wale offers packed kulfis in addition to a variety of other desi flavours like paan (betel leaf), rose, and malai (cream). They also have a selection of falooda, a traditional Indian dessert made of milk and syrup.
Kuremal Mohan Lal Kulfi Wale has a basic, rustic atmosphere with wooden benches and walls decorated with ancient pictures. Customers from both residents who have been coming for years and visitors who want to sample the real flavour of Old Delhi frequent the parlour constantly.
4. Giani’s
Delhi is the original home for the renowned ice cream parlour chain, Giani’s. The company was established in 1956 in Fatehpuri, Old Delhi, and has since earned a reputation for producing ice cream and pastries of the highest calibre.
Giani's has a variety of ice cream flavours, including traditional favourites like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry as well as less common flavours like paan (betel leaf), chikoo (sapodilla), and kesar pista (saffron pistachio). For consumers with dietary requirements, they also provide a selection of sugar-free and dairy-free choices.
The hot chocolate fudge sundae, a sumptuous dessert made with warm chocolate sauce poured over vanilla ice cream and garnished with nuts and cherries, is one of Giani's hallmark dishes. This is a must-try for anyone visiting an outlet of this famous ice cream parlour!
Giani's offers a variety of different treats in addition to ice cream, including shakes, waffles, and cakes. For those who prefer something more full, they also offer a variety of savoury appetisers including sandwiches and burgers.
5. Nirulas
In Delhi, there is a well-known chain called Nirula's that is renowned for its delicious food, but initially gained popularity because of its ice cream. Started by Deepak Nirula, this is, one of the first food chains in India, was established in 1934 and has been providing meals for more than 85 years. Delhi residents frequently choose Nirula's ice creams, because of the nostalgia associated with the brand. Their ice cream is available in a variety of flavours, including strawberry, mango, strawberry butterscotch, vanilla, and many more.
The hot chocolate fudge is one of Nirula's Ice Cream's most well-liked items. This traditional treat is constructed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a warm, gooey chocolate sauce, and peanuts for the crunch. Irrespective of whether one has a sweet tooth, they will be satiated with the Original HCF! Sadly, Deepak Nirula, the founder of the iconic brand passed away in October 2022.
If you’re not in Delhi, don’t fret! We’ve got a list of ice cream parlours in Mumbai as well. Affogato is espresso served with ice cream and since the summer arrived a little early in Bombay, restaurants have been serving a lot of affogato in recent times!
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