You will drink a lot of tea in Uzbekistan. It is offered at every meal, in shops, workshops and homes — and the traditional chaikhana (teahouse) is one of the best places to watch everyday life.
Green or black?
Green tea (ko'k choy) is the most common across much of the country, especially in the hot months. Black tea (qora choy) is popular too, particularly in Tashkent and in the colder season. You can always ask for either.
The chaikhana
The chaikhana is a traditional teahouse, often in the shade of trees or beside water. People meet there to talk, eat and rest, sometimes on raised wooden platforms called tapchan with a low table and cushions. Many serve food as well as tea — plov, shashlik, soups and bread.
The ritual
Tea is served in a teapot with small bowls called piyola. The host often pours tea back and forth between the bowl and pot a few times to brew it well. Bowls are filled only partly so the tea stays hot and the host can keep pouring — a sign of care for the guest.
What goes with it
Tea is usually drunk plain, with sweets, dried fruit, nuts or navat (crystallised sugar) on the side. Lemon is often available.
Where to enjoy it
- Around Lyabi-Hauz in Bukhara, beside the old pool
- Teahouses near the bazaars in Tashkent and Samarkand
- Shady courtyards in Khiva's old town
On a tour
A tea break is part of almost every day with a guide — and often the moment when the best conversations happen.
