Hyderabad, July 19 -- Remember those yellow-coloured pineapple cool pastries that dripped cold sugar syrup at every bite? For many 90s and 2000s kids in Hyderabad, it is a core memory that refuses to fade, no matter how many cheesecakes they devour. Served on a flimsy paper plate, those oversweet, neon-coloured pastries weren't gourmet, but they were magical. Add to that a thick dilkhush, a buttery bun or a cream roll with a nice layer of frosting, and you have a bakery culture on your plate that shaped the city's collective taste.

For the longest time, Hyderabad's old-school bakeries were more than just shops. They were part of everyday life, serving school kids craving cream rolls, office-goers pausing for chai and biscuit plate and el...