Guess what is reigning in Hyderabad’s meetha scene? It is not an ice cream flavour, nor a mithai, not even a chocolate-based preparation; it is an assembled dish and is not Indian at all. Apricot delight is the star dessert at weddings, parties and even after a traditional Telugu meal. More restaurants are including this dessert on their menu. Food trend trackers note that the first eatery in Hyderabad to introduce this ‘glorified Indian style dessert’ is Spicy Venue in Banjara Hills; it was first introduced as a kitty party special in 2001. In the last couple of years, the different versions of this dessert with the same name at several restaurants in the city made the owners of Spicy Venue file for trademark of the dessert’s name.
Not that Hyderabad needed an introduction to apricot. Khubani ka meetha made from dried apricots has been a traditional favourite at celebrations. So what is new about apricot delight, you may wonder. Sampath Thumula, owner of Spicy Venue explains the origins of his apricot delight: “With constant requests for something new and different, my father late L Ravinder Kumar created this dessert.” Until recent times no one had the name Apricot delight on their menu but when the dessert started appearing on menus of eateries that serve Arabian dishes, chaat and at cafes, Sampath asked his legal team to file for a trademark in 2020.
A simple search results in at least five restaurants across the city offering the dessert.
