Holiska Koirala is one of the few people who has had the opportunity to turn her college thesis into a profitable business. “It all started out of curiosity,” she recalls. Holiska started her tea company “Chiya”, a brand under Siddha Devi, in the year 2020 and in 2024, her brand won the title of the ‘World’s Best Tea’ in the World Tea Expo 2024 organised in Las Vegas, USA. The company won titles in four categories including ‘Grand Champion’, ‘Best Liquor’ and ‘Best White Tea.’ The company also received the title of ‘Origin Winner’ out of the beverages from 13 countries on the list. The World Tea Expo is one of the largest platforms that allow brands to highlight their finest teas on a global scale and gain recognition from industry experts. These winners represent the best teas and producers in the international tea market.
Siddha Devi is also one of the first tea brands in Nepal to go plastic free. “My brand is about promoting three things – sustainability, women’s empowerment and Nepal’s GDP. In fact, everything required for the production is sourced from Nepal, majorly Ilam,” Holiska shares.
The team at Sidha Devi in Ilam has 99% women workers. “Most of them are single mothers and domestic abuse survivors. While I was doing my thesis which was based on tea farming in Ilam in 2019. I interviewed a few women and after I saw their struggle and how everything is in Ilam, I wanted to do something for the women there,” she adds.
“After we won the award, the response from the Nepali market has been amazing,” she smiles. From naming the brand “Chiya” that represents Nepali tea to starting a business at the age of just 22, Holiska Koirala shares what makes her life beautiful.
What makes a person beautiful
Kindness is beauty
What makes you beautiful
My giving nature
What makes life beautiful
Perspective
What tickles your funny bones
Brooklyn nine-nine
What makes you smile
My mother
Current perfume
Carolina Herrera’s Good Girl
You are addicted to
Flowers
On your wish list
To see the Northen lights
You stay fit by
Strength training, weight training and 10k steps a day
Best Year of Your Life
Right now
Latest Splurge
Jacquemus bag
Skincare
Moisturiser and sunscreen in the morning and Estee Lauder night cream and eye cream
Gadget
apple
Style Icon
Princess Diana
Always in your handbag
Lip balm
What do you do to unwind
I love painting
Favourite holiday destination
Spain
You always struggle with
Balancing personal and professional life
The best thing about being you
The love and support I have from people around me
Favourite makeup brand
Estee Lauder
Three things you absolutely do to look your best
- Drink lots of water
- I usually have my hair set
- Best outfit
On a bad hair day
Sleek hair bun
One tip you learned that makes you photo-ready
Knowing your good angle
What do you like doing in your spare time
Reading, painting and spending time in nature
Books or movies
Books. I’m currently reading “Women Who Run with the Wolves”, a must read for all women
Guilty pleasure
Chocolates. Läderach is my favourite brand internationally or else Dairy Milk never disappoints
Favourite place to eat in Kathmandu
Mak Mak, Lazimpat
One advise you would give to your younger self
Believe in yourself and be strong
Celebrity crush
Cristiano Ronaldo
Have you ever been told to change something about yourself
I think it would be “My fashion because I have a big loud taste”
Movies that inspire you
Dead Poets Society
Favourite cuisine
Italian
A quote you live by
“Everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself”- Virgil Abloh
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