Juju Dhau
जुजु धौ
The 'King of Yogurt' — a rich, creamy buffalo milk yogurt set in traditional clay pots, a centuries-old Bhaktapur specialty that has no equal.
Region
Bhaktapur
Type
Dessert
Spice Level
(0/5)
Diet
Vegetarian
Where to Try
Bhaktapur Durbar Square area — multiple shops sell it fresh daily. Cafe Nyatapola on the square. Available at select shops in Kathmandu (Labim Mall, Bhatbhateni) but best fresh in Bhaktapur.
Juju Dhau means 'King of Yogurt' in Newari, and there is zero exaggeration in that name. This thick, custard-like yogurt made from rich buffalo milk, sweetened with sugar and a touch of cardamom, set in shallow clay pots called kataaro, is hands-down the finest yogurt in Nepal — and possibly the subcontinent.
Bhaktapur owns this. Completely. The clay pots are made by Bhaktapur's own potters, and the porous clay does something to the yogurt that no steel or glass container can replicate — it slowly absorbs excess moisture, concentrating the flavors, while adding a faint earthy undertone that becomes part of the taste. The top develops a thick, slightly golden cream layer. You eat that first. Then the dense, tangy-sweet yogurt below.
Juju Dhau is not just food — it's woven into Newari social and religious life. No Newari feast, wedding, or festival is complete without it. It's offered at temples, given as gifts, served at the end of elaborate bhoj dinners. During Bisket Jatra, Bhaktapur's famous New Year chariot festival, juju dhau is distributed to crowds.
You can get juju dhau in Kathmandu now — some shops and restaurants carry it — but the real experience is buying it in Bhaktapur's Durbar Square area, where the yogurt is hours old, the clay pot is still slightly cool to the touch, and you eat it sitting on a temple step watching the world go by.