What exactly is a tea house? I asked myself as I trekked through the Khumbu Valley in Nepal. I very quickly learned to look forward to the Tea Houses visits along the route to the Base of Everest. So many people ask me about the tea. How is it? What’s it like? What was your favorite flavor? I learned quickly that it really wasn’t about the tea but about the Nepalese culture.

Almost all teahouses in Nepal began as family-run ventures, providing food, lodging and of course tea, for the weary trekker. One tea house stayed with me through out my trek in the valley: Hotel Countryside in Dingboche. Run by Ang Norba, she is 29 and has a 5 year old son, and her cook, Sapana Rai, who is 25 years old.