Hyderabad embraces New Zealand’s real fruit ice cream trend

Inspired by New Zealand's popular fruit-farm dessert culture, Real Fruit Ice Cream is gaining traction in Hyderabad. Served at select cafes, the dessert combines fresh fruits with vanilla ice cream, offering customers a lighter, customisable and visually appealing alternative to conventional treats.

Hyderabad: Fresh strawberries whirring into vanilla ice cream, ripe mangoes blended into creamy scoops and colourful berry swirls packed with real fruit, Hyderabad’s latest dessert trend is bringing a taste of New Zealand to the city.

Real Fruit Ice Cream, a popular treat across New Zealand’s fruit farms and cafes, is now being served at three places in Hyderabad: Et-Si, Snowberry and Amy’s Cafe, offering a refreshing alternative to conventional ice creams.

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Originally popularised in New Zealand, the concept involves blending real fruits with vanilla ice cream to create rich, fruity desserts that highlight the natural flavour and texture of the ingredients. Unlike many traditional ice creams that rely on syrups and artificial flavourings, Real Fruit Ice Cream focuses on the freshness, authenticity and sweetness of real fruits. The result is a smooth, creamy dessert where the fruit takes centre stage rather than acting as just another flavouring.

According to Vikas Agarwal, co-founder of Et-Si, the concept stood out because it offered something beyond a regular scoop of ice cream. “Today’s cafe audience is looking for experiences that feel fresh, interactive and visually appealing rather than just another standard dessert offering,” he says.

Part of the appeal lies in its customisable nature. At Et-Si and Snowberry, customers can experiment with different fruit combinations and create flavours of their own. Popular options include Coconut Lychee, Chatpata Jamun, Mixed Berries, Raspberry Mudslide and Peanut Butter Apple, while Amy’s Cafe offers seasonal flavours including Pinachikki, a pina colada-inspired blend with chikki.

Customers are enjoying both the freshness and transparency of the dessert-making process. “The New Zealand-style fresh fruit ice cream is perfect for those who have a sweet tooth but still want something that feels lighter and more natural. Since everything is blended fresh in front of us, you know exactly what is going into it,” says Sakshi Rochania, a student in the city.

The live blending process, vibrant colours and use of real fruit are drawing attention across Hyderabad’s cafe scene this summer, especially as more dessert lovers opt for lighter, fruit-forward treats.