New Delhi: In the age of social media, food is about trends, aesthetics, and the thrill of trying something new before it becomes common. From kunafa-stuffed croissants to spicy picantes, India’s appetite in 2025 remained curious and playful.
Matcha became a cool-girl signal, avocado went from toast to tikka and chaat, and persimmon became the hot fruit of the year, thanks to Katrina Kaif.
Here are ThePrint’s top food trends of 2025.
1. Matcha
Indian girlies’ matcha mania was the centre of attention on social media in 2025.
Ordering black coffee once felt edgy in a friend group. This year, it was matcha that turned heads. From a Japanese drink, it transformed into a lifestyle flex, a symbol of calm, clean energy and cool-girl status.
Matcha was mocked. Memes were made. At one point, it was even labelled a pretentious drink that tasted like grass. Nevertheless, the drink made its way to almost every cafe and restaurant menu.
As the year ends, matcha has evolved beyond the usual oat milk combination. Cafe and restaurant owners have been experimenting with new flavours that balance the earthy tones of matcha. Zingy citrus, berry, and watermelon blends have made the beverage all the more in demand.
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2. Kunafa
Kunafa, a classic Middle Eastern dessert, became one of India’s most searched and shared food trends. It showed up everywhere, from cafes and bakeries to pop-ups and home kitchens across the country.
The rise of kunafa mirrors India’s increasing appetite for global desserts. While Dubai-based Magnolia Bakery’s tres leches also gained attention among Indian audiences, especially after Alia Bhatt’s confession, it still couldn’t match the scale or intensity of the kunafa craze.
Social media played a key role in the dessert’s success, with Instagram and YouTube flooded by viral clips of the crisp, shredded pastry loaded with pistachio creams.
Its appeal only grew as Indian bakers and chefs experimented with flavours such as Nutella, Lotus Biscoff, and mango.
3. Avocado
Avocados are a status symbol in India, and the trend only amplified this year. People went beyond avocado toast and green smoothies. From salads and soups to chaat and starters, we saw it in everything.
“I’m making a ‘Pull Me Up Avocado Tamatar ki Chaat’, a nasi goreng with avocado, and even an avocado tikki instead of the usual potato one. These days, I get requests for avocado dishes everywhere,” chef Nishant Chaubey told ThePrint.
Another example of the avocado craze is rightly captured at Omo Cafe in Gurugram, where avocado dosas have become a hit, especially with Gen Z diners.
“In just over a month, we have sold nearly 500 avocado dosas, purely through word of mouth. We even have regulars who come back just for that dish,” said Chetna Chopra, culinary director at Omo Cafe.
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4. Persimmon
It wasn’t surprising that after avocados, persimmons became a new addition to India’s 2025 vocabulary.
The Chinese-origin fruit suddenly found itself in high demand after celebrities such as Katrina Kaif and Bhagyashree spoke publicly about its nutritional benefits.
With persimmon production limited to regions such as Kullu, prices shot up to as much as Rs 480 per kilo. The fruit’s short harvest window, from October to mid-January, only added to its exclusivity and appeal.
Naturally, cafes and restaurants were quick to jump on the trend, interpreting the fruit in different forms such as candies, sauces, garnishes, and even fermented beverages.
5. Picante
Whether you step into a bar in Delhi or Bhopal, the picante is now a permanent fixture on the menu.
Once seen as a passing fad, this spicy, tangy drink has emerged as one of the most popular cocktails across bars in India. Commonly made with tequila, a picante is sometimes paired with rum and even scotch.
“The drink hits all the right notes: tequila at the centre, a gentle herbal lift, a touch of sweetness, and that unmistakable spicy kick Indians naturally gravitate toward. That balance of heat, freshness, and familiarity is what turned picante into the go-to tequila serve across bars in the country,” said Nitin Tewari, bartender and beverage consultant.
For years, margaritas dominated the scene, thanks to their savoury appeal. But picantes stole the spotlight this year, dethroning the classic.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)