No artificial flavours, no preservatives: 80-year-old Ahmedabad woman has been making tasty, homemade ice cream varieties with 4 simple and natural ingredients for 4 decades

Ice cream becomes a saviour in the rising summer temperatures. From classic vanilla delicacies and chocolate delights to fruit-based wonders and exotic flavours, sweet tooths across all ages turn to these frozen treats to cool down instantly. Whether it is a family outing, late-night cravings, vacations or casual hangouts with friends, ice cream becomes the ultimate source of joy in the summer season. Having said that, do you know that there is a quaint ice cream shop in Ahmedabad, run by 80-year-old Niranjana Desai, better known as Niruben, who has specialised in the art of homemade ice cream?

All about Niruben Icecream

According to a report by The Better India, Niruben makes ice cream from scratch every day in the kitchen. But what sets her preparations apart from other brands is that each flavour, like mango, sitaphal, coconut and ginger lemon, is completely devoid of artificial flavours or preservatives.



Niruben’s ice creams comprise mainly 4 simple and natural ingredients, including fresh milk, cream, stevia and fruits or dry fruits. As per Vibes of India, Niruben started her ice cream venture in January 1986 from the modest corner of her home kitchen. Initially, she prepared the frozen desserts on a simple gas stove. Over the decades, the small-scale setup evolved into a dedicated workspace equipped with a traditional furnace and a separate room exclusively meant for ice cream preparation.

From humble beginnings to popular brand

Amrit Bhai, a long-time employee who has been associated with the family for nearly three decades, shared insights into Niruben’s traditional ice cream preparation process. Instead of relying on large industrial machines commonly used by commercial brands, the team prepare the desserts in a conventional setup using a massive kadhai placed over a large furnace to boil milk, which forms the base of every batch.


Fresh milk and cream are sourced from a nearby local dairy, while batches of ice cream are prepared every few days to maintain quality and taste. Along with walk-in customers, the establishment also caters to bulk and takeaway orders. The shop, which started with just flavours, including rose coconut, variyali, chocolate, badam pista kesar and kesar elaichi, has now expanded its menu.

Niruben Ice Cream now features about 27 varieties. Although advancing age has made it difficult for Niruben to source certain ingredients regularly, leading to the discontinuation of a few flavours, the shop continues to offer an extensive range of handcrafted ice creams loved by customers.