Cone-gratulations—You’ve Found India’s Best Homegrown Ice Cream Brands

There are very few things in life that can unite us quite like ice cream. Across generations, cities, and family WhatsApp groups, everyone has a scoop—the one they grew up eating after school, the flavour they begged for on birthdays, or the tub they secretly keep hidden in the freezer for bad days and very good ones.

But somewhere between our childhood orange bars and those endlessly reliable vanilla or chocolate family packs, India’s ice cream scene got a serious glow-up.

Today, the freezer aisle—and increasingly, our Instagram feeds—are filled with homegrown brands churning out everything from tender coconut and mango classics to 100+ chocolate variants, sugarless scoops, flaky croissant ice cream sandwiches, and artisanal small-batch flavours you didn’t know you needed until now. Some are powered by nostalgia, some by innovation, and some by a willingness to ask VERY important questions like: What if ice cream tasted like masala chai?

As Indian summers grow hotter and our dessert standards grow higher, local ice cream brands are stepping up with scoops that feel more intentional, playful, picture-perfect (yes, it’s a given), and far more exciting than the usual vanilla-chocolate-strawberry trio.

So, whether you like your dessert comforting and familiar or gloriously experimental, these homegrown ice cream names are proving that the sweetest success stories can, in fact, come in a cone!

Indu Ice Cream, Mumbai

Founded in 2023 by chef, content creator, and entrepreneur Saloni Kukreja, the Mumbai-based brand was born out of a desire to create ice cream that feels rooted in Indian flavour nostalgia, but with a fresher, more contemporary twist. Think “Ice Cream With Roots”—their own tagline, and a fitting one at that. Their menu moves far beyond your standard scoops, with flavours like Pistachio Baklava, Filter Kaapi Brownie Cheesecake, Paan Kaju Katli, and seasonal fruit.

If you’ve seen Kukreja whip out her skills on social media, you know she’s good at what she does. And Indu Ice Cream is just one of her attempts at making hyperlocal cooking and flavours cool again.

Tai Tai Ice Cream, Hyderabad

At Tai Tai Creamery, your ice cream comes with a side of whimsy. Opened in 2023 in Hyderabad by Kanaka Sindhu Pothineni (also known as Sindhu Sriramoju), the dessert spot introduced the city to taiyaki ice cream. This is the wildly photogenic Japanese fish-shaped waffle filled with sweet fillings and topped with soft serve. It’s India’s first dedicated taiyaki ice cream store, and easily one of the most playful additions to the country’s growing dessert scene.

The concept is simple but clever: crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside fish-shaped waffles (or ah-boongs) paired with soft-serve flavours like matcha, cereal milk, Nutella, vanilla, and chocolate, plus fun fillings and toppings that let you customise every order.

For anyone wishing to try taiyaki, save that trip to Japan, and head down close to home!

Amadora, Chennai

Long before artisanal ice cream became a buzzword, Amadora did it first—and did it well. Founded by Deepak Suresh in 2011, the Chennai-born brand helped put gourmet, small-batch ice cream on the city’s dessert map with a simple philosophy: “Eat Local. Eat Fresh.” That translates to locally sourced vanilla from Pollachi, honey from Mysuru, and fresh fruits turned into thoughtfully crafted scoops.

​Their menu spans hundreds of flavours, but a few have become near-legendary, especially Mami’s Filter Kaapi, a love letter to Chennai’s coffee obsession, and Salted Butter Caramel, a nostalgic crowd favourite. But ask regulars what they keep going back for, and many will point you to The Underbaked—Amadora’s signature dessert featuring a gooey underbaked chocolate chunk bar paired with their rich five-bean vanilla ice cream. It’s the kind of dessert that makes ordering “just one scoop” feel wildly unrealistic.

Sucres Des Terres, Mumbai

Sucres Des Terres was founded in 2014 by Kunali Chandaria-Dattoobhai, a Le Cordon Bleu-trained pastry chef, along with husband Yohaan Dattoobhai. The brand has built its reputation on small-batch, handcrafted ice creams made with fresh, seasonal ingredients and absolutely no synthetic shortcuts. The name itself—French for “sugars of the earth”—is a nod to its natural, ingredient-first philosophy. Among Mumbai’s most high-end ice cream spots, this one has become something of a cult favourite across the city.

Working out of its South Mumbai creamery, Sucres Des Terres serves globally inspired flavours like Clean Mean Vanilla Bean and Bean to Jar (made with single-origin Indian chocolate), as well as limited-edition seasonal favourites like Alphonso Pistachio and Strawberry Black Pepper. Their beautifully packed mason jars have become a signature, making every order feel a little more special!

Jaatre Ice Cream, Delhi

At Jaatre, ice cream feels less like dessert and more like a love letter to Indian produce. Founded by Shilpi Bhargava and Pavan Jambagi—the duo also behind Delhi’s beloved Carnatic Cafe—the brand creates a true farm-to-scoop ice cream experience using Indian fruits, spices, and herbs sourced directly from orchards and farms across the country.​

What makes Jaatre special is its devotion to natural ingredients and mindfulness toward production. Their ice creams are 100% vegetarian, minimally sweetened, and free of artificial additives. They’re also often served in upcycled coconut shells or eco-friendly terracotta tubs. On the menu, you’ll find inventive flavours like Palm Jaggery & Roasted Sesame, Black Pepper & Cardamom, and Rose Strawberry. Tender Coconut and Sitaphal are, of course, bestsellers.

Oh Dough, Mumbai

If cookies and ice cream (quite literally) are your love languages, Oh Dough speaks both fluently. Opened in 2016 in Mumbai’s Fort neighbourhood, the cosy dessert spot was founded by Chef Ritika Chawla, a Le Cordon Bleu alumna, with a mission to perfect one very elite pairing: warm, freshly baked cookies and handcrafted artisanal ice cream.

The concept is simple but dangerously effective and addictive. Choose from their line-up of freshly baked cookies and pair them with small-batch ice creams. While the cookies have a devoted fan base of their own, it’s the warm-and-cold combinations that keep people coming back. Think Hazelnut Praline Cookie with Smoked Vanilla, or my personal favourite combo: Chocolate Chip Cookie with Cookie Dough Ice Cream.

Read more: Storytime: Amusing Backstories Of Some Of Your Most Favourite Dishes 

Also read: Summer Special: 5 Ice Creams That Are Worth Travelling The World For