There was a time when we drew the line at chilli in our savoury food and then, of course, chilli oil happened. Suddenly, everything from dumplings to eggs to vanilla ice cream (yes, really) is getting that glossy, fiery drizzle. Everyone’s been loving a bit of chilli oil on everything, and now, that ‘fricy’ (fruity + spicy) flavour is entering desserts, too, and not only in oil form. From chopped green chilli in your favourite ice creams to red powder-topped guava, this summer is all about spicy—in everything, quite literally.
Spicy ice cream is having a moment: think creamy scoops with a slow chilli kick, mangoes dusted with spice, chilli folded into frozen desserts, and jalapeño-and pepper-laced flavours that do wonders on the palate. It’s that perfect sweet-heat balance everyone’s been loving lately.
Across India, a handful of cafés and ice cream spots are leaning into this trend, experimenting with flavours that feel playful, a little unexpected, and very now. And honestly, once you try it, plain vanilla starts to feel a bit boring.
So if your dessert game needs an upgrade (and a little heat), these are the places doing spicy ice cream right.
Taj Ice Cream, Mumbai
If there’s one place that proves spicy ice cream isn’t just a trend but something we’ve loved for years, it’s Taj Ice Cream in Mumbai. Established all the way back in 1887, the spot is known for its hand-churned sancha ice creams, made the old-school way. No machines, no shortcuts, just hours of slow churning with ice and salt to achieve a creamy texture.
This spot is also regarded as Mumbai’s first-ever ice cream parlour.
The cult-favourite during peak heat? The peru (guava) ice cream, topped generously with red chilli powder. On its own, it’s fruity, slightly tangy, and incredibly fresh but the magic truly happens when it’s paired with a sprinkle of the fiery masala. It’s a familiar street-side flavour, guava with salt and red chilli, reimagined in a creamier form.
Made with real fruit, milk, and sugar, with no artificial additives, ice cream tastes, feels, and does what it is supposed to.
Address: Shop No. 1, SBUT Transit Cluster – D Kharat, Chimna Butcher St, Bohri Mohalla, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400003
Timings: Monday to Sunday (10 am–11:30 pm)
Price for two: INR 300
Sharma Ice Cream & Pav Bhaji, Pune
At Sharma Ice Cream & Pav Bhaji, the real wildcard isn’t just the buttery pav bhaji—it’s what comes right after. Their cult-favourite guava ice cream arrives covered with a mouth-watering sprinkle of chilli powder. And it lands. The sweetness of ripe guava meets a smoky, spicy kick that lingers just long enough to make you go back for another bite.
This is also rooted in a very Indian way of eating fruit, where salt and chilli are almost second nature. Here, that same logic is reimagined as dessert. The texture of the ice cream itself is quite rich and creamy, made with a full-fat milk base, while the chilli topping cuts through the sweetness with a surprising sharpness.
Regulars swear by it, often calling the chilli-guava combo a must-try, especially if you’re in the mood for something that pushes past your standard chocolate-vanilla comfort zone.
Address: Sector 25 Pradhikaran Nigdi Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, Maharashtra 411044
Timings: Monday to Sunday (11 am–11 pm)
Price for two: INR 200
The Fat Little Penguin, Kolkata
Known for pioneering Kolkata’s artisanal ice cream scene, this one leans hard into playful, small-batch experimentation, constantly rotating flavours that feel equal parts rebellious and nostalgic.
Among the unexpected hits is their Jalapeño Cream Cheese scoop, which leans generously into savoury, folding the mellow heat of peppers into a rich, tangy cream cheese base. The result is a layered bite of ice cream you’ve probably never had before: first creamy and slightly sweet, then sour, and finally, followed by a slow-building spice. Imagine a cheesecake that decided to take a spicy detour.
Then there’s the Popcorn Cream Cheese Jalapeño, which somehow manages to push things even further. The buttery, toasted notes of popcorn add an addictive crunch to the ice cream, while the cherry on top, of course, is the sharp hit of jalapeño. It’s odd, but somehow works, tapping into that sweet-salty-snacky instinct we tend to have every once in a while.
So yes, this is definitely the kind of place where you go in expecting a quirky scoop and walk out rethinking what ice cream can actually be!
Address: The Fat Little Penguin, Purna Das Rd, Golpark, Hindustan Park, Gariahat, Kolkata, West Bengal 700029
Timings: Monday to Tuesday (2–10 pm), Wednesday to Sunday (11 am–12 am)
Price for two: INR 400
BANG BANG! Noodle, Mumbai
Nobody expects dessert to be the most interesting part of a noodle bar. At BANG BANG! Noodle, however, finishing your bowl is only the beginning. Their Ma La Chilli Oil Soft Serve is the real star for those who love a spicy kick in almost everything. Built around the same house-made chilli oil that fuels their savoury dishes, this ice cream is about to set your mouth on fire.
Made in small batches and layered with Sichuan aromatics, the chilli oil is undoubtedly the backbone of the soft serve, The best part is that the ice cream not only features spice but also a depth with that signature ma la flavour. You know that slow, tingling numbness in your mouth that feels less like spice and more like your taste buds snapping to attention? Swirled into a creamy soft serve, it creates a contrast that shouldn’t work but absolutely does—cool, milky sweetness, colliding with a warm, buzzing spice.
Address: Shop No. 4, Siddharth Nagar Rd, Motilal Nagar I, Goregaon West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400104
Timings: Tuesday to Sunday (12 pm–12 am)
Price for two: INR 1,000
Hice Cream, Goa
At Hice Cream, ice cream has never really believed in playing it safe. Born out of Gopika Khanna’s home kitchen in Assagao, this artisanal brand built its reputation on doing things differently, where ice cream comes with a cocktail twist. Yes—you read that right. Ice cream with a buzz—what could be better?
To top it all off, there are even spicy concoctions. Their Chilli Mango Margarita—called Tattoos and Tequila—is probably the clearest example of how Hice Cream blurs the line between dessert and drink. Here, sweet, tropical mango meets a citrusy tang, finished with a chilli kick that mimics the rim of a well-made margarita. It’s not aggressively hot, but just enough to keep things interesting, turning every bite into something unexpected.
They serve numerous similar spiked and spiced ice creams, so if you’ve been looking for a good time that tastes icy and dessert-like, look no further!
Address: V4 Expanse Hamlet, Assagao Badem Road, Assagao, Goa, India 403507
Timings: All day
Price for two: INR 1,400 for two
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