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The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Evolving Taste Preferences Drive Demand for Global Dessert Flavours in India
India, 16th June , 2025 : From Biscoff to Hokey Pokey, Indian dessert menus are beginning to resemble those of European cafés more than they do traditional Indian sweet shops. Once dominated by kulfi, rasmalai, and laddoos, India's ice cream market is evolving rapidly, as global flavours gain mass-market appeal across cities, towns, and even tier-2 markets. According to a 2023 report by IMARC Group, India's ice cream market, currently valued at over ₹21,000 crore and growing at a CAGR of 13.5%, with consumer demand increasingly driven by taste experimentation, travel exposure, and global culinary influence. Food aggregators report a 60% rise in dessert orders featuring 'non-Indian' flavours over the past two years, led by cheesecake variants, cookie-infused recipes, and indulgent European-style flavour profiles. Food trend analyst Priya Sharma attributes the shift to rising global exposure: 'Urban and semi-urban consumers are exposed to a wider range of global cuisine through social media, international travel, and OTT content. This is directly influencing their dessert choices. A decade ago, a flavour like Ruby Cheese may have sounded too experimental. Today, it sparks curiosity and is seen as premium.' A striking example of this trend is Dumont Creamery , based in Vijayawada, whose product R&D team has developed more than 300 unique flavours over the past five years ranging from globally inspired innovations like globally inspired flavours like Hokey Pokey (a toffee-based classic from New Zealand), Ruby Cheese (a creamy European innovation), and Biscoff (Belgium's iconic caramelised biscuit) to locally rooted variations like Nuzividu Mango, Filter Coffee, Jackfruit and Chikoo. While the brand began with traditional offerings, the bulk of its recent sales growth, according to internal insights, is being driven by a combination of a global-meets-local approach. Importantly, this global flavour trend doesn't come at the cost of local identity. Brands like Dumont maintain strong ties to regional sourcing and Indian taste preferences. 'It's about striking a balance of introducing global flavours while celebrating our roots,' says a Dumont spokesperson. 'We use locally grown fruits like Chikoo and Mango, even as we innovate with flavours that someone might discover during a trip abroad.' This demand is not limited to metros. Even in smaller cities like Karimnagar, Mysuru, and Vizag, global dessert influences are shaping everyday indulgences through local brands that adapt international profiles to Indian palates, often combining sweet and spicy notes or adjusting sugar levels. Biscoff-based treats are now staples in dessert cafés and mainstream QSR chains, enjoyed alongside classic Indian flavours. Retail data supports this shift. A NielsenIQ study found that ice cream products featuring global flavour cues sold 2.2 times faster than traditional variants in 2022–23. These figures align with broader consumption shifts where novelty, storytelling, and aspirational quality increasingly influence buying decisions. What was once considered niche or novel is now mainstream and in many cases, preferred. As Indian consumers continue to embrace international flavours while staying rooted in local traditions, the line between local and global taste is melting fast. 'This is a company press release that is not part of editorial content. No journalist of The Hindu was involved in the publication of this release.'
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Parents, chill: Why you don't need to teach your 3-year-old to read
Recently, a friend gave me a hand-me-down kit filled with beautiful wooden games and brightly colored books that promises to teach my child to read. The phonics-based program, the company says, can be used as soon as a young child starts showing interest in books and telling stories, notices letters and words around them, knows how to hold a book, and understands that you read from left to right. That certainly describes my younger son, who just turned 3 and loves pretending to read picture books alongside his 6-year-old brother, who learned to read in kindergarten. But the set has been gathering dust in a cabinet for weeks. California's dismal reading scores point to the need to bolster doing early literacy. But at 3, my son still wears diapers and has the soft cheeks of babyhood. Is he really ready to learn how to read? What is the "right" age to start, and how young is too young? Before starting in on the reading lessons with my little guy, I decided to check in with a few literacy experts. Spoiler alert: Most told me to wait. "Can a child learn individual letters at 2½ or 3? Sure. But is it developmentally appropriate? Absolutely not," said Susan Neuman, a professor of childhood and literacy education at New York University. At age 3, she said, children learn language best through play and the back-and-forth with caregivers who talk, read and sing to them. Parents might read nursery rhymes, a powerful tool that teaches children rhymes they remember throughout their lives, she said. They might sing songs like the "Hokey Pokey" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider," which get children ready to hear and recognize the sounds of our language. "That's really essential. Oral language is the foundation of early literacy, and that's what we need to do at 3 or 4." Research suggests these oral skills may actually prove more valuable than learning to read early: Children who learn their letters early may be more "school ready" in kindergarten, but that benefit fades quickly as other children catch up. A strong vocabulary in the early years, however, predicts school readiness in the fourth grade, Neuman said. When is the "right age" for children to learn to read? We've all heard of the precocious children who learn to read on their own as early as age 2 or 3, but they are the outliers representing about 1% of children, said Neuman. For the vast majority of children, research suggests that ages 5 to 7 are the prime time to teach reading, said Maryanne Wolf, director of the Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners and Social Justice at UCLA. Reading words off a page is a complex activity that requires the brain to put together multiple areas responsible for different aspects of language and thought. It requires a level of physical brain development called mylenation — the growth of fatty sheaths that wrap around nerve cells, insulating them and allowing information to travel more quickly and efficiently through the brain. This process hasn't developed sufficiently until between 5 and 7 years old, and some boys tend to develop the ability later than girls. "I even think that it's really wrong for parents to ever try to push reading before 5," because it is "forcing connections that don't need to be forced," said Wolf. Parents who try to teach their children to decode words at 3 or 4 may end up turning their kids off from reading instead. Children who are drilled in flash cards and letter decoding may also miss out on the more essential moments of play, exploration and language. "Waiting doesn't hurt, but there is a risk that pushing will," Wolf said. In European countries such as Finland and Denmark that wait to teach reading until age 6 or 7 and focus instead on play and exploration, children tend to be more proficient readers and fewer struggle, said Wolf. If she had a magic wand, Wolf said she would require all schools in the US to wait until at least age 6. "It wouldn't work. The United States has a rapacious appetite for pushing kids. But I can at least make sure a child is given their sweet time in kindergarten," she said. But there are also experts who say letter sounds should be taught to 3-year-olds in preschool. "Children at age 3 are very capable," said Theresa Roberts, a former Sacramento State child development professor who researches early childhood reading. And it doesn't have to be a chore, she said. Her research found that 3- and 4-year-olds were "highly engaged" during 15-minute phonics lessons, and they were better prepared in kindergarten. They still had plenty of time to play and expand their vocabulary during the rest of the day, she added. As for my son and the reading set, Roberts told me to "Give him a go! Observe and see what happens." What's the best way for parents to get young children ready to read? Early literacy is key to helping children learn to read, but it "doesn't look like what older people might think," said Neuman. The skills that prepare a child to read begin developing in utero, as a baby listens to the familiar voices around them and begins to develop connections between sounds and the meanings of words in their home language. After birth, a baby is immediately immersed in a sea of words and rhythm, as their caregivers coo over them, chatter and sing lullabies. Parents should start reading to a baby early and often, beginning with soft cloth and board books. "Reading really begins under the crook of an arm on a beloved lap," said Wolf, who recommends parents develop a nightly reading ritual with their babies and surround them with letters and books to provide a linguistic-rich environment. When a parent reads a toddler a book such as "Pat the Bunny" and points out, "Oh, this is a bunny, bunnies have fur, pat the fur — that's all early literacy," said Linda Espinosa, a professor of education at the University of Missouri and co-chair of the committee who wrote a recent report on preschool curriculum for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Singing the ABC's with them, teaching colors, and letting them play with magnetic letters on the fridge also promote vocabulary and oral language development, which are foundations for early literacy. It is also about letting toddlers tumble, explore and play. "When we talk about early literacy, we don't usually think about physical development, but it's one of the key components," said Stacy Benge, author of "The Whole Child Alphabet: How Young Children Actually Develop Literacy." Crawling, reaching across the floor to grab a block, and even developing a sense of balance are all key to reading and writing, she said. "In preschool we rob them of those experiences in favor of direct instructions," said Benge. "There's a lot of money to be made in our worry about our children being behind." Some children may become interested in the letters in their name, and want to copy them down or point out words that start with the same sound. Andmany will enter kindergarten already knowing some letters and sounds. But parents don't need to push too hard. "I'd say parents, relax, talk to your child, engage them in extended conversations, read to them, take them places," like the bank and grocery store, and tell them the names of the things around them, said Neuman. And as for that reading kit in my cabinet: "Wouldn't you rather just read to him and convey a love of reading to him? It really just depends on how you want to spend your time," said Neuman. "I'd say don't bother. Do something fun."
Los Angeles Times
24-06-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Parents, chill: Why you don't need to teach your 3-year-old to read
Recently, a friend gave me a hand-me-down kit filled with beautiful wooden games and brightly colored books that promises to teach my child to read. The phonics-based program, the company says, can be used as soon as a young child starts showing interest in books and telling stories, notices letters and words around them, knows how to hold a book, and understands that you read from left to right. That certainly describes my younger son, who just turned 3 and loves pretending to read picture books alongside his 6-year-old brother, who learned to read in kindergarten. But the set has been gathering dust in a cabinet for weeks. California's dismal reading scores point to the need to bolster doing early literacy. But at 3, my son still wears diapers and has the soft cheeks of babyhood. Is he really ready to learn how to read? What is the 'right' age to start, and how young is too young? Before starting in on the reading lessons with my little guy, I decided to check in with a few literacy experts. Spoiler alert: Most told me to wait. 'Can a child learn individual letters at 2½ or 3? Sure. But is it developmentally appropriate? Absolutely not,' said Susan Neuman, a professor of childhood and literacy education at New York University. At age 3, she said, children learn language best through play and the back-and-forth with caregivers who talk, read and sing to them. Parents might read nursery rhymes, a powerful tool that teaches children rhymes they remember throughout their lives, she said. They might sing songs like the 'Hokey Pokey' and 'Itsy Bitsy Spider,' which get children ready to hear and recognize the sounds of our language. 'That's really essential. Oral language is the foundation of early literacy, and that's what we need to do at 3 or 4.' Research suggests these oral skills may actually prove more valuable than learning to read early: Children who learn their letters early may be more 'school ready' in kindergarten, but that benefit fades quickly as other children catch up. A strong vocabulary in the early years, however, predicts school readiness in the fourth grade, Neuman said. When is the 'right age' for children to learn to read? We've all heard of the precocious children who learn to read on their own as early as age 2 or 3, but they are the outliers representing about 1% of children, said Neuman. For the vast majority of children, research suggests that ages 5 to 7 are the prime time to teach reading, said Maryanne Wolf, director of the Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners and Social Justice at UCLA. Reading words off a page is a complex activity that requires the brain to put together multiple areas responsible for different aspects of language and thought. It requires a level of physical brain development called mylenation — the growth of fatty sheaths that wrap around nerve cells, insulating them and allowing information to travel more quickly and efficiently through the brain. This process hasn't developed sufficiently until between 5 and 7 years old, and some boys tend to develop the ability later than girls. 'I even think that it's really wrong for parents to ever try to push reading before 5,' because it is 'forcing connections that don't need to be forced,' said Wolf. Parents who try to teach their children to decode words at 3 or 4 may end up turning their kids off from reading instead. Children who are drilled in flash cards and letter decoding may also miss out on the more essential moments of play, exploration and language. 'Waiting doesn't hurt, but there is a risk that pushing will,' Wolf said. In European countries such as Finland and Denmark that wait to teach reading until age 6 or 7 and focus instead on play and exploration, children tend to be more proficient readers and fewer struggle, said Wolf. If she had a magic wand, Wolf said she would require all schools in the U.S. to wait until at least age 6. 'It wouldn't work. The United States has a rapacious appetite for pushing kids. But I can at least make sure a child is given their sweet time in kindergarten,' she said. But there are also experts who say letter sounds should be taught to 3-year-olds in preschool. 'Children at age 3 are very capable,' said Theresa Roberts, a former Sacramento State child development professor who researches early childhood reading. And it doesn't have to be a chore, she said. Her research found that 3- and 4-year-olds were 'highly engaged' during 15-minute phonics lessons, and they were better prepared in kindergarten. They still had plenty of time to play and expand their vocabulary during the rest of the day, she added. As for my son and the reading set, Roberts told me to 'Give him a go! Observe and see what happens.' What's the best way for parents to get young children ready to read? Early literacy is key to helping children learn to read, but it 'doesn't look like what older people might think,' said Neuman. The skills that prepare a child to read begin developing in utero, as a baby listens to the familiar voices around them and begins to develop connections between sounds and the meanings of words in their home language. After birth, a baby is immediately immersed in a sea of words and rhythm, as their caregivers coo over them, chatter and sing lullabies. Parents should start reading to a baby early and often, beginning with soft cloth and board books. 'Reading really begins under the crook of an arm on a beloved lap,' said Wolf, who recommends parents develop a nightly reading ritual with their babies and surround them with letters and books to provide a linguistic-rich environment. When a parent reads a toddler a book such as 'Pat the Bunny' and points out, 'Oh, this is a bunny, bunnies have fur, pat the fur — that's all early literacy,' said Linda Espinosa, a professor of education at the University of Missouri and co-chair of the committee who wrote a recent report on preschool curriculum for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Singing the ABC's with them, teaching colors, and letting them play with magnetic letters on the fridge also promote vocabulary and oral language development, which are foundations for early literacy. It is also about letting toddlers tumble, explore and play. 'When we talk about early literacy, we don't usually think about physical development, but it's one of the key components,' said Stacy Benge, author of 'The Whole Child Alphabet: How Young Children Actually Develop Literacy.' Crawling, reaching across the floor to grab a block, and even developing a sense of balance are all key to reading and writing, she said. 'In preschool we rob them of those experiences in favor of direct instructions,' said Benge. 'There's a lot of money to be made in our worry about our children being behind.' Some children may become interested in the letters in their name, and want to copy them down or point out words that start with the same sound. And many will enter kindergarten already knowing some letters and sounds. But parents don't need to push too hard. 'I'd say parents, relax, talk to your child, engage them in extended conversations, read to them, take them places,' like the bank and grocery store, and tell them the names of the things around them, said Neuman. And as for that reading kit in my cabinet: 'Wouldn't you rather just read to him and convey a love of reading to him? It really just depends on how you want to spend your time,' said Neuman. 'I'd say don't bother. Do something fun.'
Otago Daily Times
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Dots to showcase local lore
South Dunedin is going dotty for fast facts. Dream South D plans to display a series of "Did You Know" dots showcasing interesting stories from the suburb. Project lead Rosie Hill said the aim was to celebrate the area's unique identity. "The idea of the project is to build on that pride of place and connect." About 20 dots will soon appear near the main shopping precinct of King Edward St. "We have tried to do it in a fairly concentrated area of South Dunedin to get a bit of impact." Each circle carries a nugget of local lore: the invention of the chop-suey pattie at Nanking Palace Restaurant; the suburb's claim to patenting Hokey Pokey ice cream in 1896; the first New Zealand hot-air balloon ascent and parachute jump at the former Caledonian Ground by United States showman Thomas Baldwin in 1889. The dots also highlight landmarks such as the Donaghys Industries 320m long rope-walk building and the Dunedin Gasworks site. "We have tried to keep it quite light with some fun facts, but then also highlighting places of significant heritage in South Dunedin," Mrs Hill said. Volunteer "history buff" Patricia McLean helped research information and check facts. "She was very happy to help." The first panels focus on post-settlement facts but the aim is to broaden them to include earlier history. "We would love to get a deep dive more into prior to settlement as well. "We know that this was a big food-gathering area." The project has been designed in two stages. The first stage is the temporary trial of the dots that have been created on corflute and not permanently fixed. Stage two will invite the local community such as residents, businesses and mana whenua to share their own stories. "I feel like we have only just got the tip of the iceberg." Other possible developments include adding QR codes that link to further information about particular sites. Another idea is to create a walking trail or digital trail so people can visit each location. "If it is very well-received by the community, we would certainly like to investigate some lovely permanent signs in the future." Dream South D is a five-year project funded by Department of Internal Affairs — Te Tari Taiwhenua as part of its community-led development programme. "We have got two years left, so now it is kind of 'go time' for us. "It is really time to run and push out a lot of things, we have got a lot of stuff in the pipeline," Mrs Hill said. • To contribute to future 'dots', email hello@
Time Out
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Gelato Messina Review: Australia's famous gelato chain lands in Singapore
Give a big cheer, Messina is here! Australia's cult-favourite gelato chain just unveiled its first-ever Singapore store at Chinatown, and we couldn't be more excited. Located at 1 Club Street, the shop occupies the ground-floor units of The Working Capitol, with a seating area that fits around 20 people. But let's get down to business – here's the scoop on all the flavours, prices, and all you need to know before visiting Singapore's very first Gelato Messina. The first thing to do is heave a sigh of relief – the brand brings its signature 40-flavour cabinet to our shores, so you won't be missing out on all-time-favourites like the Pistachio Praline, Hokey Pokey, Italian Nougat, or the Panna Cotta with fig jam and amaretti. We're told that everything is freshly churned daily and that all toppings and additions at Messina, down to its chocolate chunks and nut paste, are made with proprietary recipes. The folks here have gotten their Pistachio Praline formula down to a tee. Butter-smooth, rich and nutty, with homemade pistachio paste swirling through the gelato like molten gold, it's a faultless replica of the one we had at Messina's Bondi Beach outlet in Sydney. The only difference is that Singapore's relentless heat means your scoops are reduced to a sweet, sticky mess in no time, so be prepared for that. Apart from the 35 core flavours, many are curious about the five Singapore-exclusives that Messina is debuting at the store. These are: Singapore, How You Durian? – featuring coconut gelato with durian jam and cake; kaya toast – kaya gelato mixed in with dehydrated toast and kaya jam; teh tarik – a simple milk tea gelato; tau huey – lightly sweetened tofu gelato; and Yolk's On You – salted egg yolk gelato with gula melaka caramel. Among the above, our pick is the tau huey, thanks to its velvety texture, simple construction, and how identitical it tastes compared to the beloved local dessert. At the time of our visit, the ondeh ondeh flavour was also available, and these had generous chunks of chewy pandan mochi wedged into each scoop. A word of caution: the durian, kaya, and salted egg yolk are extremely indulgent – and rightfully so – but since they lean sweeter, we found ourselves gravitating towards the tried-and-tested classics. Not to worry though — Messina is known for encouraging over-the-counter tasting, so you're less likely to be pressured into making regretful decisions and having to stick with a flavour you dislike. Or, you can just come back the next day to try again. Happy problems. There are also weekly rotating flavours to look forward to, and the one we sampled was a Cinco de Mayo special, studded with crunchy churro bits. For our lactose-intolerant friends, thankfully, Messina does its dairy-free options well too. There are some eight sorbets to pick from, including refreshing flavours like dragonfruit, raspberry, lemon, passionfruit, mango, and others. But for something different, go for the chocolate sorbet, which is sorely underrated, according to one of the staff members we spoke to. Unlike regular ice cream shops in Singapore where regular and premium flavours are tagged to different prices, each scoop at Messina goes at a standard $7.50. It's not the cheapest in town, but considering the quality of ingredients (hear this: Messina has its very own dairy farm in Victoria supplying fresh Jersey milk to every joint), we say it's well worth the splurge. That said, you can also get more bang for your buck if you order two ($10) or three scoops ($12) – perfect for sharing. And for ardent fans of the chain, you'll also find shelves lined with merchandise like bucket hats, tote bags, and socks plastered with the brand's monogram, so go ham and get that Messina drip. Gelato Messina Singapore is located at 1 Club Street, Singapore 069400. Official opening hours have yet to be confirmed, but according to Google, the store is open from 2pm to 10pm from Tuesday to Thursday, and noon to 10pm from Friday to Sunday.
