Kathmandu: Local Tea and Dal-Bhat Cooking Class

Learn to make dal-bhat and brew Nepali tea in a local home in Kathmandu. Enjoy a meal with your host family and take home a recipe sheet to recreate the dishes at home.
Immerse yourself in Nepali culture with a local tea and dal-bhat cooking class in Kathmandu. Step into a local home, where you’ll be welcomed with smiles and a friendly “Namaste” by your host family.

Begin by preparing Nepali tea, made with black tea leaves from the hills of Ilam, milk (often buffalo milk), and a mix of warming spices like cardamom and cloves. Your host will show you how to balance the flavors and brew the tea just right, so it’s not too strong and not too light. While sipping your tea, chat with the family and learn more about their life, daily routines, and traditions.

Next, move on to the main dish—dal-bhat. This dish is a staple in nearly every Nepali household and is both healthy and filling. It usually consists of steamed rice (bhat), lentil soup (dal), seasonal vegetables, pickles (achar), and sometimes curry or meat.

Wash and cook the rice while also learning how to prepare the dal using lentils, garlic, ginger, and spices. The vegetables are cooked in mustard oil with chili and turmeric, and you’ll also learn how to make a simple but flavorful pickle using radish, tomato, or cucumber. The best part is that you get to do everything yourself, from peeling and chopping to stirring and tasting.

The hosts are patient and friendly, explaining each step clearly and helping you understand how Nepali cooking is all about balance—flavor, nutrition, and freshness. Everything is cooked in traditional pots, and in some homes, you may even get to use a clay stove or open fire, which gives the food a unique taste.

During the class, you’ll also hear stories about Nepali food habits, farming, and festivals. For example, how dal-bhat is eaten daily across the country—from mountain villages to city homes—and how it keeps people strong for trekking, farming, and daily work. You’ll see how food is connected to community and how each region adds its own special twist to the dish.

Once all the cooking is done, everyone gathers around to enjoy the meal together. Sit cross-legged on the floor or at a low table, eating with your hands if you want to try it the local way. The food is simple but full of flavor—hot rice soaked with spicy dal, crunchy pickles, and perfectly cooked vegetables. And of course, there’s more tea to finish it off. The meal feels less like a tourist activity and more like being part of a family dinner.

At the end of the class, your hosts will give you a recipe sheet so you can try making the meal at home. Some classes also give small souvenirs like a spice mix or a handmade bracelet. More than just learning to cook, this class is about sharing culture, understanding local life, and making memories with people who are happy to welcome you into their homes.

उपलब्धता की गारंटी के लिए जितनी जल्दी हो सके बुक करें। जल्दी बुकिंग पर विचार करना विशेष रूप से तब महत्वपूर्ण है जब आप सार्वजनिक छुट्टियों या सप्ताहांत जैसे उच्च सीजन के दौरान यात्रा की योजना बना रहे हों।

इस यात्रा को आप यात्रा शुरू होने से 24 घंटे पहले बिना किसी शुल्क के रद्द कर सकते हैं। यदि आप इसे 24 घंटे बाद रद्द करते हैं या यात्रा पर नहीं आते हैं, तो भी आपको गतिविधि की पूरी कीमत चुकानी होगी। पिक-अप या प्रस्थान में देर से आना यात्रा पर नहीं आने के रूप में माना जाएगा।