Chennai, Sept 2:
Chennai’s morning walking trails are seeing a growing number of juice and healthy-snack stalls, with aloe vera juice emerging as a popular choice among fitness-conscious residents looking for a light drink after their daily walk.
From Marina and Besant Nagar beaches to Anna Nagar, Mylapore, Adyar, Velachery and Mogappair, walkers are increasingly stopping at roadside counters for aloe vera, nellikai, sugarcane and mixed-fruit juices, besides traditional snacks such as sundal.
Aloe vera juice, in particular, has found favour among regular walkers who associate it with natural ingredients and digestive wellness. Vendors say demand has increased as customers have become more conscious of what they consume after exercise.
“People finishing their morning walk want something light and healthy,” said Ramesh, a juice vendor near Elliot’s Beach, adding that aloe vera juice is increasingly sought after by morning walkers.
At several locations, vendors have also started offering combinations of aloe vera with other traditional ingredients, while some customers specifically ask for drinks without added sugar.
“Earlier it was mostly sugarcane juice. Now people ask about calorie count, no sugar, and organic ingredients,” said Suresh, who operates a mobile juice cart near a walking track in Velachery.
The trend is not limited to beverages. Sundal, boiled groundnuts, sprouts and fresh fruit are also popular among walkers seeking alternatives to packaged snacks. A regular walker in West Mambalam said many prefer traditional snacks after their morning routine.
“Sundal has always been part of our culture. After walking, we prefer this over packaged food,” she said.
The city’s extensive network of parks and walking spaces has helped create a steady market for such vendors. The Greater Chennai Corporation itself describes several city parks as important spaces for walking and recreation, with facilities including long walkways and open areas.
For many walkers, the attraction is also social. A quick glass of juice or a plate of sundal has become part of the post-walk routine, turning these roadside stalls into informal meeting points.
“As long as cleanliness is maintained, these stalls are welcome. They make our walks more social,” said Arun, a regular walker at the Besant Nagar promenade.
However, the increasing number of roadside food and juice stalls has also raised concerns over hygiene, waste disposal and obstruction of pedestrian pathways. Residents have called for designated vending spaces so that the growing demand for healthy refreshments does not come at the expense of walkers’ convenience.
With Chennai’s parks and beaches drawing thousands of early-morning walkers, aloe vera juice, fresh fruit drinks and traditional healthy snacks are fast becoming part of the city’s evolving morning-walk culture.