Top Bubble Tea Brands: Sip Your Way Through Delightful Flavors

Bubble tea, with its tantalizing combination of tea, milk, and chewy tapioca pearls, has captured the hearts of beverage lovers worldwide. In recent years, a plethora of brands have emerged, each offering unique takes on this beloved drink, ensuring there's something to satisfy every bubble tea enthusiast's palate. From traditional flavors to innovative concoctions, these brands craft beverages that cater to both classic tastes and adventurous preferences. Curious to discover which bubble tea brands stand out from the rest? Read on to find our curated list of the best bubble tea brands you should try today.

Illustration of bubble tea

Best brands of bubble tea in 2025

Sharetea

Sharetea, a leading global bubble tea franchise founded in 1992 in Taiwan, is renowned for its premium and authentic Taiwanese tea flavors. With over 450 locations spanning 18 countries, Sharetea has achieved an impressive 11% year-over-year unit growth, outpacing the broader industry. The brand offers a diverse menu featuring milk teas, fruit teas, and ice-blended drinks, attracting a strong customer base of millennials and Gen Z. Sharetea franchises typically require an investment of $387,000 to $492,000 and generate an average annual revenue of $372,000. The brand's success is further enhanced by a comprehensive training program, marketing support, and a global supply chain.

Gong Cha

Gong Cha, founded in 2006 in Taiwan, is a leading global brand in the bubble tea industry, known for its high-quality, personalized service, and innovative recipes. With over 1,600 locations in 22 markets, Gong Cha has established a strong presence in Asia, Europe, and the Americas, and is projected to reach 2,000-plus stores. The brand is renowned for its daily-brewed fresh tea and unique offerings such as salty milk foam, which it was the first to introduce. Gong Cha's global expansion includes significant growth in the U.S., with plans to exceed 500 U.S. locations by 2025. The brand's commitment to quality and customization has driven its success, with a wide range of toppings and flavors available. For more information about their franchising opportunities, visit Gong Cha Franchising.

CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice

CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice is a leading global brand in the bubble tea industry, boasting over 5,000 stores worldwide and a significant presence in regions like South Asia, the US, and Europe. The brand has experienced rapid growth, expanding from 3,500 to 5,000 stores between 2019 and 2023, and is anticipated to capitalize on the global bubble tea market, which is projected to grow from $2.46 billion in 2023 to $4.08 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 7.51%. CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice is known for its high-quality drinks made with fresh local ingredients and a commitment to innovation, such as region-specific flavors and novel drinks. The brand has won several awards, including the World Branding Awards for three consecutive years from 2017 to 2022. With a strong focus on consumer preferences and sustainable business models, CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice continues to be a major player in the global bubble tea market. For more details, visit their website.

Tiger Sugar

Tiger Sugar, founded in 2017 in Taichung, Taiwan, has emerged as a leading global brand in the bubble tea industry, renowned for its signature brown sugar boba milk tea. The brand's unique 8-hour method for cooking syrups and tapioca pearls ensures a perfect blend of tea, milk, and syrup. With over 200 locations across 15 countries, including more than 40 in the United States, Tiger Sugar has achieved rapid global expansion. Its brown sugar boba milk accounts for over 70% of its sales, highlighting its core product's dominance. The brand's strong reputation and high customer demand have driven its growth, with a year-over-year growth rate of 37%.

Koi Thé

KOI The is a leading brand in the bubble tea industry, renowned for its high-quality products and consistent customer satisfaction. Founded in 1994 and expanded overseas since 2006, KOI The has established a strong presence with over 586 stores globally, including in Singapore, China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. The brand accounts for 24.3% of the invoices among 61 bubble tea brands in Taiwan, reflecting its dominant market position. Known for its mid- to high-priced offerings, KOI The ensures authenticity by importing tea leaves and pearl powder from Taiwan to maintain the best quality. The brand's commitment to quality and customer experience has made it a favorite among consumers across various age groups. Discover more about KOI The's bubble tea offerings.

Boba Guys

Boba Guys is a renowned brand in the bubble tea industry, founded in 2012, known for serving the highest quality boba milk tea using fresh ingredients like Straus Family Creamery organic milk and homemade syrup. The company has estimated annual revenue of $62.4 million and employs 210 people, with a revenue per employee of $297,000. Despite a -4% employee growth rate, Boba Guys has successfully onboarded 10,000 loyalty program members in just 40 days, resulting in a 244% increase in visit frequency and a 3.5x increase in spend for loyalty members. The brand's commitment to quality and customer loyalty has made it a standout in the market. Boba Guys continues to grow, contributing to the U.S. bubble tea market, which is projected to reach $750.59 million by 2030.

Happy Lemon

Happy Lemon is a globally renowned bubble tea brand, founded in 2006 by the Yummy-Town Group, a prominent tea culture company from Taiwan. With over 350 locations across 21 countries, including the USA, Canada, and Australia, Happy Lemon has established a strong global presence. The brand is celebrated for its innovative products, such as the viral salted cheese tea, which has driven a 17% year-over-year growth in the U.S., outpacing the industry median of 0%. Happy Lemon's commitment to quality and innovation has made it a leader in the rapidly growing global tea market, projected to hit $4.5 billion by 2026 with an 8.1% CAGR. On average, a Happy Lemon franchise generates approximately $1 million in revenue per year. For more information, visit their official website.

The Alley

The Alley is a prominent brand in the bubble tea industry, known for its high-quality products and strategic expansion. The brand, which is part of the Taiwan-based bubble tea chain, has seen significant growth, particularly in Thailand where it operates 12 branches, with plans to open 20 more stores to capitalize on underserved markets. Notably, 79% of The Alley's customers are women, and over half are aged 24-35, with the flagship brown-sugar fresh milk drink leading in sales. The company sells 100,000 drinks a month and is expanding its product line to include bakery items, soft-serve ice cream, and over 20 hot drink options. Despite the government's sugar tax increase, The Alley has not raised prices and reports that 35% of customers request the regular amount of sugar, while 24% opt for half the amount. For more insights into their expansion plans, visit their coverage on the Bangkok Post.

ChaTime

Chatime is a leading global bubble tea brand, renowned for delivering 'Cups of Joy' to consumers worldwide. With nearly 1,500 stores in 63 countries and regions, Chatime has established a strong market presence and a diverse customer base. The brand is expected to benefit from the exponential growth of the global bubble tea market, projected to increase from $2.46 billion in 2023 to $4.78 billion by 2032, driven in part by Gen Z consumers who have shown a high preference for bubble tea, with 94% of those aged 20-29 having purchased it in the preceding three months. For further details, you can visit their official website.

Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea

Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea is a prominent brand in the bubble tea industry, known for its authentic Taiwanese tea beverages made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Established in 2016, the chain has rapidly expanded to approximately 1,000 locations as of 2024. Yi Fang's offshore sales account for about 40% of the brand's revenue, with a significant presence in countries like Japan, China, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. The brand has continued its global expansion despite challenges, opening over 12 new outlets in regions including Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Canada since July 2020. Yi Fang's commitment to using locally sourced, seasonal fresh fruits and pure natural ingredients has contributed to its success. For more information, visit the Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea official website.