CT Exclusive: 10 Summer Food & Travel Memories That Remind You Of Your Childhood

Summer memories are a huge chunk of our childhood memories as a whole. When you ask people what they remember, no one gives you a clean answer; they circle it. They say things like “that orange drink” or “that bell in the lane” or “you know, those nights”. So I asked around the Curly Tales team for their summer special insights, and it was more heartwarming than anyone expected.

10 Summer Childhood Memories Every Indian Will Relate To

1. Having Rasna In The Scorching Heat

Content Writer Priyanshi Shah didn’t describe a moment; she described a habit. It had the following components: an open fridge, a steel jug and Rasna or Tang. The glass would fog up instantly in the heat. You’d finish it without really tasting it, pour another, and then another. It wasn’t special; it was routine, and that’s what makes the memory shine!

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2. India Gate Evenings Plus Baraf Ka Gola 

Sub-Editor Tashika Tyagi remembers Delhi not as a city, but as a summer evening that refused to wrap up on time. India Gate meant walking without direction, stopping without reason, and always ending up with something cold in your hand.

Barf ka gola first; it was bright, aggressively sweet, and melting before you could commit to one flavour. Then, almost automatically, an ice cream from a nearby stall, which charged more than it should have. You weren’t paying for the ice cream; you were paying for not wanting to go home yet.

3. The Last Day Before Summer Break

The last day of school before the summer break never felt real until lunch. For me, it was always rajma chawal. 

At our home, we didn’t say, “Summer has started.” We just ate, more indulgently than usual, knowing the next few weeks belonged entirely to us.

Also Read: From Snowfall In Kashmir To Hailstorm In Karnataka, Winter Arrives In The Peak Of Summer

4. Kulfi Wala 

Senior Content Writer Deeplata didn’t need to explain much; the kulfi wala’s bell does the work on its own. It cut through everything, be it the TV noise, conversations, or even sleep. 

And then there were those Pepsi ice sticks, which were priced between ₹1 -₹5, depending on what you had. Orange, cola, and raspberry—they had all the colours that looked brighter in the sun. They’d start dripping before you got halfway through, and still, you’d pick the same one the next day.

5. A Mango-licious Summer

Content Writer Ashmeet Guliani talks about mangoes the way people talk about festivals. There was a start date, and thereafter, everything changed.

It was all about shakes that were thicker than they needed to be and homemade mango ice cream that took serious effort with cutting, blending and freezing. It was a mango-core summer!

6. Evening Games With Gully Buddies 

Tanvi N Shrivastava, our sub-editor’s summer didn’t follow a clock but split into itself. Afternoon cycling turned into evening badminton, which turned into hide-and-seek when more people joined in.

Breaks happened, but only because someone suggested sugarcane juice or a gola, not because you were done playing.

And then came the part that felt slightly rebellious: staying up. Waiting for the matka kulfi wala, who showed up late enough to feel like you were getting away with something. Around 12:30, sometimes 1, you’d hear him before you saw him.

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7. Nani Ka Ghar-Core Treats 

For Sannjanaa Shenoyy, our Chief Sub Editor, summer wasn’t about leaving; it was about returning. Growing up in the Gulf meant India came in bursts, concentrated into a few weeks that had to hold everything.

There was a mental checklist, even if she never wrote it down. She loved the Alpenliebe from her granduncle’s pharmacy, Rasna that somehow tasted more like Rasna here, Limca during evening walks and also, Nandini badam milk! 

And then her grandmother’s jasmine sherbet; it was something no store could replicate, no matter how hard it tried.

8. Lazy Afternoon Naps

Senior Content Writer Anupriya’s memories sit in that quiet stretch of the day when everything becomes calmer and slower. With curtains pulled just enough and the TV running cartoons that you weren’t fully watching but didn’t want to turn off either, it was a special memory already. 

A glass of lemonade or iced tea sat nearby, collecting condensation. You’d sip it occasionally, more out of habit than thirst.

Lunch was predictable with rice, dal and aloo bhujia. Snacks weren’t scheduled, but they just appeared with chips, popcorn, and something always within reach.

9. Bathing Ourselves In Powder 

Right after a bath, there was a brief illusion of control when we thought we could win over the summer heat and the mosquitoes. We used to practically bathe in Nycil or Pond’s Dreamflower talc, like we were preparing for something.

For a few minutes, it worked. We felt cooler, lighter, and almost comfortable. Then the heat came back, as it always did, but that didn’t make the ritual any less important.

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10. The Sound Of The Ice Cream Cart At 4 PM

So, which of these is the most relatable for you? 

Cover Image Courtesy: sontyaaaa/X and merirasoi/Facebook