As Hyderabad swelters through another punishing summer, sugarcane from Maharashtra and Kerala is emerging as the star of the season, flowing through hundreds of juice stalls across the twin cities. Vendors are increasingly turning to these varieties for their exceptional sweetness, soft pulp and high juice yield, drawing customers in hordes for a cold, refreshing glass of cane juice.

The shift has also transformed the business itself. Traditional iron roller crushers and laborious multi-pass extraction methods are steadily being replaced by stainless-steel machines with instant chilling technology, enabling faster service, better hygiene and maximum extraction in a single press.

Seasoned sellers note that prices have risen compared to last year, especially for the popular No.62 variety, known for its freshness and sweetness. Rizwan, a vendor selling cane juice near Mehdipatnam bus station, says he now pays ₹1,500 per quintal, up from ₹1,300 last year. “Sugarcane grown in black soil is sweeter and best for extracting juice,” he says, adding that despite higher costs, demand remains steady as temperatures continue to soar.

Krishna, who has been selling juice near Jubilee Bus Stand for 14 years, echoes the sentiment. He too prefers the No.62 variety for its higher yield, sourcing from Zaheerabad and occasionally Pune. He laments that pushcart vendors using makeshift machines have eaten into the business, but insists that quality juice keeps bringing customers back to his stall.

Abdullah, a vendor at Necklace Road, sources sugarcane from Kerala and uses an electric machine with built‑in freezing and chilling systems. “It eliminates the need for external ice and ensures cleaner juice without fibre,” he says.

Customers too are noticing the difference. Ravinder, a regular at JBS, says he now prefers juice from modern machines, citing better hygiene and taste. “Earlier, I dreaded drinking juice from old machines due to fear of contamination,” he admits.

While Telangana produces varieties like No.8014, known for high sucrose content and its use mainly in factories, juice vendors rely heavily on No.62, explains Razi, owner of MM Sugarcane Supplier in Gudimalkapur.