Tea in Nepal includes a broad mix of black tea, green tea, milk tea (chiya), and locally produced loose-leaf varieties, shaped by domestic cultivation, widespread consumption, and strong cultural familiarity. In cities such as Kathmandu and Pokhara, tea is highly visible through tea houses, street vendors, markets, and cafés where both traditional milk tea and packaged options are widely available. In rural and mountainous regions, tea is primarily consumed at home or in local shops, often using locally sourced leaves or widely distributed bagged products. The tea market in Nepal is influenced by factors such as climate, agricultural production in eastern tea-growing regions, affordability, and deeply embedded daily consumption habits. Compared with other beverages, tea occupies a dominant role as both a daily staple and a widely accessible product across all socioeconomic levels. Informal distribution networks and local production help sustain availability even in remote areas. As a result, tea in Nepal reflects a mature and deeply integrated market where domestic production and everyday consumption reinforce each other.
