Cool fun: Residents enjoy their ice creams and sundae in Patna on Thursday. Picture by Jai Prakash

Patna, April 14: The dating season with the favourite brands of ice cream has begun.

After a very cold winter, it is now the time to face the music as the mercury keeps rising in the state capital. A casual visit outside the house can be a torture, unless one can enjoy on a favourite brand of ice cream.

“What can be better than ice cream in summer? People look forward to enjoy them throughout the year but they provide a bigger relief during summer,” said Shreya Roy, 16, while relishing her favourite strawberry ice cream at a Mauryalok Complex stall this afternoon.

For Shreya, one ice cream is not enough. “One has to savour two flavours of ice cream to understand the difference between them. A cone or a cup of ice cream cannot cool the entire body — you need at least two,” she said.

With the arrival of summer, this is the stopping point for Shreya. She comes here with her group of friends as well as her family members. For Arpita Srivastava, Shreya’s friend, summer means extra pocket money. “As I need to stay out of home for long hours shuttling among home, coaching classes and college, my father keeps on reminding me to drink plenty of beverages like juice and shakes in between. I just add a scoop of ice cream or two to the menu, especially when I am with my group of friends,” she said.

The array of flavours are spoiling the customers for choice. The market is also upbeat, with new flavours being launched in the market. The ice cream sellers are happy.

“Sudha fruit cocktail was a hit even last year and in summer, people often yearn for it,” said Santosh Kumar, a seller at a mobile parlour at Mauryalok Complex. “The base is made with soft vanilla ice cream and over it toppings of five seasonal fruits, including kiwi, black grapes, are added. Often customers demand a topping as per their choice and we dress it up accordingly,” he said.

The regular cocktail comes in for Rs 60 and a large one for Rs 70, added Kumar. And Sudha’s menu also comprises susha dry fruit cocktail, sudha chocolate cocktail, sudha mango cocktail and little lamb’s cocktail.

Diksha Prakash, a Class XI student, is an ice cream freak and her father is no different. “I cannot resist the temptation for an ice cream myself, how do I ask my daughter to not do the same?” Diksha’s father Prakash Kumar said.

Not only ice cream, this summer like any other has found takers for several natural drinks. “Nariyal pani (coconut water) is the best during summers — it is natural without any synthetic elements,” said Bhoomika Vaid, a chartered accountant. She said she prefers bel sharbat and mango drink.

Manisha Singh, a homemaker, said: “I spend most of my time in the kitchen. Nimbu pani (lemon water) is the best option for me, as I can make it at home and it is also good for health.”

Summer is all about the heat, but with all these products around, there is one more way to combat the scorching heat and the rising temperature.