Aadya Amruttulya: Pune’s 102-Year-Old Tea Legacy Still Brewing Tradition in 2026
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Raviwar Peth, 29th August 2026: In the heart of old Pune, where narrow lanes, historic markets and centuries-old businesses continue to define the city’s character, a cup of tea carries a story that stretches back more than a century.
Housed at 528, Laxmi Road, Kapad Ganj, Raviwar Peth, Sonya Maruti Chowk, Pune, Aadya Amruttulya has been serving its distinctive tea since 1924. The establishment completed 100 years in 2024 and is now in its Hundred and second year, continuing a family legacy that has survived changing times, evolving tastes and growing competition.
The tea shop is widely regarded as one of Pune’s oldest surviving Amruttulya tea establishments. Recent local accounts continue to identify the shop with the same 1924 heritage and its traditional tea-making style.
From Rajasthan to Pune
The story of Aadya Amruttulya begins with a family that migrated to Pune from Narta village in Rajasthan’s Jalore district.
The family initially entered business in Pune by selling thandai at Rameshwar Chowk. Tea was subsequently introduced, eventually becoming the family’s main business.
In 1924, the family shifted its complete focus to tea and established the business that would become Aadya Amruttulya. The name was given on Ashadhi Ekadashi, July 27, 1924. Aadya means “first” in Sanskrit, while Amruttulya refers to something comparable to amrut, or the nectar of immortality.
That name would go on to become closely associated with Pune’s distinctive tea culture.
The Secret Behind the Taste
For generations, Aadya Amruttulya has relied on a traditional method rather than modern shortcuts.
Its tea has traditionally been prepared using tea leaves sourced from Kerala and Assam, combined with locally sourced milk and a special spice blend. Cinnamon, cardamom and other spices form part of the masala that gives the tea its distinctive flavour.
The tea is prepared in brass vessels and traditionally strained through a cloth rather than a conventional metal strainer. This old-fashioned preparation method remains one of the defining features of the Amruttulya experience.
Among the varieties associated with the establishment is Fakkad Chai, a thicker, strongly brewed milk tea that has become particularly popular among regular customers. A 2024 Times of India report noted that the shop was selling thousands of cups during busy periods, with Fakkad Chai among its most sought-after varieties.
A Cup Loved by Bollywood Legends
Aadya Amruttulya’s history is also connected with some of the biggest names in Indian cinema and public life.
One of the most famous stories involves Bollywood actor Shammi Kapoor, who reportedly visited the tea shop in 1957 after the premiere of Tumsa Nahi Dekha in Pune.
According to accounts from the family, Kapoor noticed the crowd around the shop, ordered a cup of tea and enjoyed it so much that he asked for another.
Over the years, the establishment has also been associated with personalities including Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi, Johnny Lever, Dada Kondke, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sharad Pawar and Balasaheb Thackeray.
The shop’s location also played a role in its celebrity connections. It was situated near Melody Makers, a recording studio that attracted musicians and film personalities, making the tea shop a convenient stop during recording sessions and breaks.
More Than Just a Tea Shop
For generations of Punekars, Aadya Amruttulya has been more than a place to buy tea.
Traditional Amruttulya shops have historically served as informal meeting points where people from different walks of life could sit together, discuss the day’s events and enjoy an inexpensive cup of tea.
That culture has changed considerably with the arrival of cafés, branded tea chains, food-delivery platforms and modern beverage outlets. Yet Aadya has retained much of the character that made it popular in the first place.
The establishment has also adapted to changing times. Before the pandemic, it had experimented with online delivery, serving customers in nearby areas. According to a 2025 Punekar News report, the family later discontinued its online service and returned its focus to serving customers at the shop.
102 Years and Still Brewing
The journey from 1924 to 2026 is a remarkable one.
The city around Aadya Amruttulya has changed dramatically. Old neighbourhoods have evolved, businesses have come and gone, and the way people consume tea has transformed.
Yet at Aadya Amruttulya, the tradition continues.
Today, a visit to Aadya Amruttulya is not simply about drinking tea. It is an opportunity to experience a small but enduring part of Pune’s cultural history.
From a family that travelled from Rajasthan to a tea shop that helped popularise the word Amruttulya across Pune, the story of Aadya is ultimately a story of migration, entrepreneurship, family, taste and resilience.
In 2026, as Aadya Amruttulya enters its 102nd year, its greatest achievement may be the simplest one: keeping the same love for a traditional cup of chai alive across generations.
