Dhenkanal Distinct Taste
PRAGATII KUMARRI | IIMC Dhenkanal | Sep 25, 2025, 17:13 IST
"India is a land of diversity, where every region has its own unique flavor. Among them, Dhenkanal in Odisha stands out with a distinct taste. Though unfamiliar at first, its subtle sweetness—even in spicy foods—leaves a lasting impression, offering a culinary experience unlike any other."
A girl from Bihar named Akansha was sitting in a restaurant with her friend, brother, and sister. Her brother, Ashok, ordered the food. At that time, it was already 4 o’clock, so the restaurant’s food was almost over. Ashok requested the cook to prepare food for four people and ordered many items. After about half an hour, the food was served by the waiter.
First of all, spicy papad was served as a starter. This was the first time Akansha had ever eaten a spicy papad. She had not even heard of this dish before. When she tasted it, she found the papad spicy but also with a hint of sweetness. Since she was from Bihar, this taste was unfamiliar to her. But after eating it twice, she started liking it.
After some time, the main food was served. All of them ate the traditional food of Odisha. Though the food was delicious, the taste felt different, as if they had never eaten such flavors before. Curious, Akansha asked the waiter, “Why is the food both salty and sweet? Is there any special recipe of Odisha?” The waiter replied, “No, here in Dhenkanal people don’t eat very spicy food. So, we mix a little sugar with salt in the dishes. That’s why the food tastes both salty and sweet.”
![Bada]()
But this was not the end of her surprises. One morning in her PG, Akansha saw her roommates eating rice with lemon and water. Shocked, she asked, “What is this?” Her friend replied, “This is Pakhala. People eat it for energy. It is also the favorite food of Lord Jagannath and is offered to Him as prasada.”
The surprises continued. In Bihar, there is usually only one type of pitha, but in Odisha, people prepare pitha in many different ways, and each has a unique taste. While pakoda is a favorite snack in Bihar, Akansha tried bada of Odisha for the first time and liked it very much. She also noticed that, unlike the rest of India where idli is served with sambar, in Bihar idli is eaten with ghugni.![Maize snack]()
Another interesting street food of Dhenkanal is the maize snack. In the local street markets, two or three vendors sell boiled maize mixed with lemon, spices, and chutney, which gives it a unique flavor. Akansha liked it very much. The price of this snack was just 25 rupees.
First of all, spicy papad was served as a starter. This was the first time Akansha had ever eaten a spicy papad. She had not even heard of this dish before. When she tasted it, she found the papad spicy but also with a hint of sweetness. Since she was from Bihar, this taste was unfamiliar to her. But after eating it twice, she started liking it.
After some time, the main food was served. All of them ate the traditional food of Odisha. Though the food was delicious, the taste felt different, as if they had never eaten such flavors before. Curious, Akansha asked the waiter, “Why is the food both salty and sweet? Is there any special recipe of Odisha?” The waiter replied, “No, here in Dhenkanal people don’t eat very spicy food. So, we mix a little sugar with salt in the dishes. That’s why the food tastes both salty and sweet.”
Bada
But this was not the end of her surprises. One morning in her PG, Akansha saw her roommates eating rice with lemon and water. Shocked, she asked, “What is this?” Her friend replied, “This is Pakhala. People eat it for energy. It is also the favorite food of Lord Jagannath and is offered to Him as prasada.”
The surprises continued. In Bihar, there is usually only one type of pitha, but in Odisha, people prepare pitha in many different ways, and each has a unique taste. While pakoda is a favorite snack in Bihar, Akansha tried bada of Odisha for the first time and liked it very much. She also noticed that, unlike the rest of India where idli is served with sambar, in Bihar idli is eaten with ghugni.
Maize snack
Another interesting street food of Dhenkanal is the maize snack. In the local street markets, two or three vendors sell boiled maize mixed with lemon, spices, and chutney, which gives it a unique flavor. Akansha liked it very much. The price of this snack was just 25 rupees.