The 55-year story of pudding at Pala’s first ice cream parlour

In the busy town centre of Pala, Kottayam, stands an ice cream parlour that has been serving the same flavours for more than half a century. Thripthi, opened in 1970, remains a name every generation in Pala associates with their first taste of ice cream, custard pudding or fruit salad.

From a bank job to ice cream
Thripthi was started by the late Tharappel T J Joseph, fondly known as Kunjeppootty. One of Pala’s first B.Com graduates, he had secured a steady job in a bank. But in an era when secure government and bank jobs were considered the safest career choice, he gave it up to follow a different dream — to open an ice cream parlour in his hometown.

At the time, Pala had no other ice cream shops. Ice cream itself was a rare indulgence, often limited to bigger towns and cities. Custard puddings and fruit salads were even less familiar. Kunjeppootty’s Thripthi introduced these treats to the people of Pala, and the response was immediate. Families, students and children began frequenting the parlour, making it a social hub in the town.

Flavours that never changed
For 55 years, Thripthi has kept its menu simple. The custard pudding remains the most sold item, followed closely by their homemade ice creams.

Customers who have been coming here for decades say the taste has remained the same. For many in Pala, their first memory of pudding or ice cream is tied to Thripthi.

Today, the parlour is run by Kunjeppootty’s son.

A small shop, a long legacy
The place has none of the frills of modern dessert outlets. What it offers instead is continuity — the same recipes, the same style of serving, the same corner in town.

For 55 years, Thripthi has been more than just a shop. It has been part of Pala’s daily rhythm, a spot where generations discovered the taste of ice cream and custard pudding.