Bubble tea chain Gong Cha plots major San Antonio expansion

With nearly 2,200 shops worldwide, Gong Cha bills itself as “the most recognized bubble tea brand in the world,” but it is still a relatively unknown concept in San Antonio. That’s about to change. The Taiwan-based chain had inked a franchise deal to open 50 new Texas units in Texas’ four major metros over the next seven years.

The new stores will be owned by Bakers Acres & Cattle Company, a Houston firm that manages a diverse portfolio of ranchland, commercial real estate, and Nothing Bundt Cake franchises. A release did not specify which neighborhoods Gong Cha was targeting or how many units would open in each city.

Gong Cha, which translates to “tribute tea from the emperor,” was founded in Taiwan in 2006 and has since grown rapidly throughout Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. The brand made its Texas debut in July 2016 in Houston and currently operates three San Antonio shops.

The chain has earned a cult following for its green, oolong, Earl Grey, and black teas. Brewed every four hours, the varieties can be customized by temperature and sweetness level and topped with boba pearls, milk foam, pudding, and jellies.

Gong Cha also brews up fruity teas with mango, passionfruit, and strawberry and serves smoothies and slushes with star-shaped jellies. The menu is a little more Americanized than its main competitor, Kung Fu Tea, largely skipping popular Asian flavors like jujube, winter melon, and red bean.

Although not the rarity it once was, bubble tea has grown exponentially in the U.S. in the past decade due to its social media-friendly appearance and Gen Z’s increasing preference for non-alcoholic drinks. According to industry news site Food on Demand, the teas are increasingly being consumed as an afternoon snack rather than an add-on to a meal.

Whether that will spell success for Bakers Acres & Cattle is still yet to be seen, but the company might want to consider scouting closer to downtown. San Antonio’s bubble tea scene is clustered heavily in the newer northern retail corridors rather than the historic core.