Snacks and cookies were stacked like a wall on top of the store's counter

As I walked through a narrow shopping street, lined with small eateries and vegetable stalls, something caught my eye—a store overflowing with colorful snack packages.

At the front counter, stacks of cookies and biscuits formed a vibrant wall of colors, impossible to ignore. I stood there for a moment, taking in the sight. In India, it’s perfectly normal to see cookies and biscuits sold alongside chai at street stalls. Pairing sweet snacks with tea isn’t just a preference—it’s a cultural habit.

After all, India is one of the world’s largest producers of sugarcane and the number one consumer of sugar globally. If there’s one thing that’s clear from walking through a market like this, it’s that Indians have an undeniable sweet tooth.

But why are Indians so drawn to sweets?

One reason is that many Indians don’t drink alcohol. Since they consume little to no alcohol, their bodies naturally crave sugar—leading them to reach for sweets instead.

Another factor is India’s economic growth, which has made sugar more affordable and widely available. As a result, the country’s per capita sugar consumption continues to rise every year.

However, this sweet obsession comes at a cost.

India now holds the unfortunate title of the world’s second-largest country for diabetes, just behind China. As living standards improve, more people are indulging in sugary treats, leading to a sharp increase in lifestyle-related diseases.

Walking past the rows of colorful snack packages, I couldn’t help but wonder—how much of this love for sugar is tradition, and how much is simply the price of modern prosperity?

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