Every year, International Tea Day is celebrated on May 21 to recognize tea’s cultural heritage, health benefits, and economic significance. In Odisha, tea is more than just a beverage—it is an experience, a sentiment. Whether it’s the morning newspaper or the evening’s chatter, the day feels incomplete without a cup of tea.

In Kendrapara, there is a tea shop that draws crowds. From the moment the kettle starts to boil to the moment the tea is served in a glass, patrons sit eagerly, like birds waiting for rain. Many say that a day is not truly good unless it begins with a cup from this shop.

The shop, located near the old bus stand in Kendrapara town and was started by J.J. Madhusudan Rao, a freedom fighter who famously refused his government pension, saying he would rather serve the country than take money. Madhusudan also used the shop as a base to support the independence movement, even actively resisting the British. Proud and self-reliant, he ran his household from the income of the tea business.

After him, his son Jagabandhu Rao, and later his grandson Dhani, continued the tea business. Today, the shop remains one of the oldest in town, selling over 2,000 glasses of tea daily, including specialties like milk tea and unique local blends.

Situated in a bustling part of the city near the District Collector’s office, SDPO office, Cyber Police Station, Town Fund Office, Police Colony, Post Office, Treasury Office, Sub-Registrar’s Office, the historic Diamond Jubilee Public Library, and the Big Bazaar, the shop is not only a hub for tea lovers but also a center where political debates and discussions flourish. Its surroundings, dotted with various religious sites, add to the heritage charm of the old bus stand area.