Nepali Chiya Culture
Bubble Tea, Matcha and Chiya: How Tea Trends Are Changing in Kathmandu
Chiya Table · 9 Oct 2026
Tea in Kathmandu isn't standing still. Alongside the classic glass of chiya, new styles are appearing on menus and social feeds. Here's a look at the trends.
Bubble tea
Bubble tea (boba), sweet tea with chewy tapioca pearls, has become popular with young people in Kathmandu, and several shops now specialise in it. Globally, Google has reported bubble tea as one of the most searched types of tea.
Matcha
Matcha, powdered Japanese green tea, has been one of the fastest-growing tea searches in the region. In 2026, Google reported that searches for "how to make matcha" in neighbouring India had surged dramatically. Matcha lattes are increasingly showing up in Kathmandu cafes too.
Clay-cup chiya
At the same time, there's a revival of older styles. Matka chiya, tea served in a clay cup, has spread across Kathmandu tea shops, and tandoori tea finished in a hot clay pot is catching on. These drinks combine tradition with something new to share online. Read about matka chiya and tandoori tea.
Fruit and flavoured teas
Large tea menus with dozens of options, from fruit teas to herbal blends, are another sign of how much experimentation is happening.
Why chiya still wins every day
Trends come and go, but the everyday cup in Nepal is still milk chiya: affordable, quick, comforting and shared. New drinks are exciting; chiya is home.
What we serve
At Chiya Table we focus on doing the classics well, with a few special touches:
- Cutting Tea (Rs. 30) and Masala Tea (Rs. 50)
- Matka Tea (Rs. 50) and Tandoori Tea (Rs. 60)
- Special Fruits Tea (Rs. 100), our house special