Kolkata, May 29 (IANS): It was a hot and humid Friday in the city and across West Bengal, forcing residents to opt for cool summer drinks and indoor activities.

In Kolkata, the maximum temperature hovered around 36 degrees Celsius. The humidity levels soared to 85 percent in the morning and it was around 58 percent later in the day, the Met Office said.

"Overall it was hot and humid in Bengal with a good amount of discomfort," an official said.

Small kiosks on the roadsides and parks served lemonades and soda-based beverages to passersby while iced-teas and cold coffees in cafes provided the much-needed relief.

The famed 97-year-old Paramount juice shop in College Street saw a good demand of its iconic 'daab sherbet'- green coconut sherbet (a cold drink usually made with diluted fruit juices).

The sherbet - a mix of raw coconut water, its tender sweet pulp and an essence - is a creation of renowned chemist Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray.

According to its manager Partha Majumdar, the daab sherbet's popularity hasn't waned over the decades and the demand increases in the summer season.

Fresh fruit juices and fruit-'chaats' are popular with families that chose to ditch the fried goodies to beat the heat.