Tea Baidao recently launched a new product, "Hand-Stir-Fried Brown Sugar Pearl Fresh Milk," and footage of store employees tossing and stir-frying pearls in the back kitchen sparked attention on social media. This new item, which involves stir-frying brown sugar syrup and pearls on site, has been regarded by some milk tea fans as the "top-tier among pearls," attracting many people to place orders and try it as soon as possible. However, the first wave of consumer reviews showed clear polarization: some were won over by the soft, chewy, caramelized texture, while others bluntly said the pearls tasted as if they had been soaked for too long, with some even detecting a disinfectant-like taste. The controversy centers on the quality of the semi-finished pearls, unstable quality control caused by differences in operations across stores, and whether the on-site stir-frying format can truly improve the experience. This article compiles feedback from multiple sources, explores the craftsmanship and quality control challenges behind this cup of freshly stir-fried pearl milk tea, and includes related recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Ordering a milk tea now, pudding, pearls, and grass jelly are already standard options. Thirty years ago, the earliest milk teas were far less elaborate. Starting from 1987, when Taiwan's Chun Shui Tang dropped tapioca pearls into milk tea, the matter of adding toppings has gone through a long process of being banned, recombined, cross-industry experimentation, and a rotating lineup of niche fruits. CoCo都可 combined pearls, pudding, and grass jelly into one drink, giving rise to the now-familiar "Milk Tea Three Brothers." Nowadays the direction of toppings has shifted again—lemon tea is actually more popular without toppings, and new faces like Yashixiang, bergamot, turmeric, and peach gum have appeared one after another. This piece reviews the key milestones in milk tea toppings and also shares some observations from Front Street Coffee on current tea beverage trends. [more…]

Milk tea toppings are getting more and more elaborate, and some people even just want the toppings without the tea base. Recently, a "low-cost Heytea" hack has been trending on social platforms: spend 2 yuan on a portion of brown sugar boba, pair it with a bottle of fresh milk, shake it a few times, and you've got a mini version of brown sugar pearl milk. It's said that bringing your own cup saves even more—3 yuan gets you two portions of toppings. But does this DIY version actually taste good? How big is the gap compared with the original from the store? This article walks you through netizens' hands-on test experiences and ordering phrases, and takes a look at the consumer psychology behind the involution of milk tea toppings. [more…]

Guangzhou Zoo recently published a set of images linking animal feces to bubble tea pearls, with the caption "Hey, are you having afternoon tea today?", which quickly sparked discussion on social platforms. Many netizens who were enjoying pearl milk tea said they were visually shocked, saying bluntly that "the milk tea in my hand suddenly doesn't taste good anymore." In street interviews, most citizens believed that this publicity method was inappropriate and likely to affect appetite, and some even described it as "uncomfortable" and "disgusting." However, some voices pointed out that this was more like a teasing reminder urging people to drink less pearl milk tea, and it reminded people of the classic Skittles advertisement. At present, the zoo has deleted the related content, and customer service said that no related products are for sale. [more…]

A milk tea shop in Hunan has sparked heated discussions online due to controversial slogans posted inside the store. The slogan, in white text on a red background, reads "This shop does not serve idiots," and suggests customers go to milk tea shops that haven't been open for "a few days" to drink self-produced milk. This way of expressing things not only left many netizens confused, but was also seen as "taking passive-aggressive jabs at peers and insulting consumers." It is worth noting that this shop previously imitated Mixue Bingcheng, recently shifted to the pearl milk tea track, and its promotional slogan has also been accused of being similar to Baozhu Gong. Is this kind of marketing strategy clever, or is it shooting itself in the foot? Let's take a closer look. [more…]

In recent years, competition in the tea beverage industry has extended from product innovation to capital operations. As a leading brand, Mixue Bingcheng has not only accelerated regional layout and supply chain development, but also further expanded its business territory by establishing Xuewang Investment Co., Ltd. and taking a stake in Guangdong Huicha Catering Management Co., Ltd. Guangdong Huicha has secured a firm foothold in the market with its original golden-burnt pearl milk tea, and this investment is also Xuewang Investment's first external investment. Meanwhile, brands such as Heytea and Chayan Yuese have also embarked on the capital path one after another, seeking richer business models through investment and mergers and acquisitions. This article sorts out the brand dynamics, investment details, and industry trends of Mixue Bingcheng's subsidiary brands, providing in-depth observations for coffee and tea beverage enthusiasts. [more…]

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style) For more specialty coffee beans, please add the private WeChat of Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee), WeChat ID: qjcoffeex Perhaps it won't be long before walking into a coffee shop and ordering no longer sounds like just "iced americano with Yirgacheffe SOE swap, an extra shot, light ice no water," but instead becomes "iced americano with Yirgacheffe SOE swap, plus crispy boba and lemon jelly." From Heytea putting brown sugar boba into coffee, to Luckin using brown sugar agar to create its Meteorite Latte, to Starbucks trying caramel coffee popping boba in certain regions, adding toppings to coffee is no longer anything new. This innovation path has both attracted a large number of young consumers and continually sparked debate among traditional and specialty coffee enthusiasts. This article sorts out several key moments in the tea-ification of coffee and discusses what this change means for the coffee industry. [more…]

Starbucks is introducing a texture-focused topping—raspberry bursting pearls—for the first time in its summer menu this year, adding them to three berry-flavored Refreshers iced drinks. This attempt was personally previewed by CEO Laxman Narasimhan at an earnings conference and is positioned as the first step in texture innovation for the years to come. Unlike traditional tapioca pearls, Starbucks is using popping boba that burst when bitten, officially called Pearls. Customers can also pay to add the pearls to other drinks and snacks, at $1.25 per scoop. In fact, as early as 2021, Starbucks tested coffee popping boba in two stores, but the response was limited. This article sorts out the formula details of the new products, the pricing rules, and Starbucks' historical attempts at pearl toppings. [more…]

Tea Baidao has been rolling out new products frequently lately—wheatgrass juice, bell pepper fruit-and-vegetable tea, and the gorgeous strawberry have all taken turns on the menu. Now it has been revealed that the chain is requiring its stores to purchase woks and stock tapioca starch, having staff hand-roll the balls and stir-fry the pearls fresh. As soon as the news broke, milk tea fans were full of anticipation, but frontline workers were wailing in despair, saying outright that "my heart is dead" and "I want to escape." Can freshly made pearls really improve the taste? How can the contradiction between a brand's pace of new launches and store staffing be resolved? This article takes you through the uproar caused by pearls. [more…]

Vitasoy International Holdings' interim results for the 2021/2022 fiscal year show that revenue fell 18.28% year-on-year, while net profit plunged 95%, marking the largest decline in recent years. The core trigger of this storm was the public backlash caused by the July 2021 incident in which an employee attacked police and then hanged himself, leading to large-scale product removals and celebrity contract terminations in the mainland market—a key region accounting for 60% of the company's total revenue. The incident occurred during the summer sales peak, obstructing new product promotion, while competitors seized the opportunity to accelerate penetration. Industry analysts pointed out that in addition to the public relations crisis, Vitasoy's structural weaknesses in the mainland market—over-reliance on the Pearl River Delta and insufficient penetration in the north—were equally fatal. Rising raw material costs and slow packaging updates further dragged down recovery, and it is expected to take at least three years to restore profitability. This article will sort out the sequence of events, market reactions, and future challenges, providing in-depth reference for observers in the coffee and beverage industry. [more…]

Heytea's sub-brand Xixiaocha recently closed its last store located in Guangzhou City Investment Building. From the opening of its first store in April 2020 to its complete withdrawal now, only two and a half years have passed. Xixiaocha once deeply cultivated six cities in the Pearl River Delta and opened 22 stores, focusing on affordable drinks priced from 8 to 16 yuan. Before closing, most stores were still profitable. At the same time, Heytea's main brand has continuously lowered prices since the beginning of this year, announcing that it will no longer launch products priced above 29 yuan, and all new products will be priced no higher than 20 yuan. The product positioning and price ranges of the two brands are increasingly overlapping. The last update on Xixiaocha's official WeChat public account remained on July 20, 2022, and its mini-program can no longer be searched. Heytea has not yet responded. This article reviews the rise and fall of Xixiaocha and analyzes its connection with the strategic adjustments of the main brand. [more…]

As the soul ingredient of milk tea, the freshness of tapioca pearls is directly related to consumer health. Recently, a Yidian Dian store at Zhoushan Ruxin Plaza was fined 15,000 yuan by regulatory authorities for using expired tapioca pearls to make and sell Bubble Milk Tea and other drinks. An investigation showed that the store involved not only used ingredients beyond their shelf life, but also failed to establish purchase inspection records as required. This is not the first time Yidian Dian has been involved in a food safety controversy; previously, a Fuzhou store was reported to have had a bug found in its milk tea. As the peak season for summer beverage consumption arrives, food safety issues have once again sounded the alarm. [more…]

The high-speed rail milk tea "That Girl" launched by China Railway Guangzhou Group has sparked widespread discussion since its debut, with its 26-yuan price tag, taste, and packaging design all becoming focal points of criticism among netizens. In response to the controversy, the head of Guangzhou EMU Catering Co., Ltd. responded on November 16, stating that the pricing takes into account production costs, transportation, and the special operating environment of high-speed rail, in line with relevant department standards, and promised to continuously optimize product quality based on passenger feedback. Whether this high-speed rail milk tea, which sells 3,000 cups daily and is often out of stock, can turn its reputation around is worth watching. [more…]

In recent years, chain coffee brands have been including limited-edition merchandise with new product launches, from cups to bags to earphone pouches, and these freebies have become even more popular than the coffee itself. Consumers buy coffee just to get a nice-looking freebie, jokingly saying they are reenacting the idiom "buying the box and returning the pearl." This article takes M Stand's Thai-flavored coffee series, which comes with a cork earphone pouch, as an example to analyze the brand strategy and consumer psychology behind this phenomenon, and explore how gift marketing helps brands expand their reach and build a good reputation. [more…]

Oriental Beauty Tea is a highly representative specialty tea of Taiwan, and among its varieties, the old-growth Oriental Beauty made from the Huanggan cultivar is especially precious. Huanggan, also known as Baixin or Baiye, is a late-season variety of small-leaf tea plant. It was widely cultivated in Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, and other areas in the early days, but today pure-bred plants have become extremely rare. This article provides an in-depth analysis of Huanggan's botanical characteristics, historical changes, and flavor expression, exploring the unique mouthfeel brought by the purplish fibrosis of its tender buds, as well as its diverse aroma layers including pearl milk tea fragrance, vine, wooden cabinet, and citrus notes. At the same time, it introduces Front Street Coffee's recommendations and selection approach for this tea, guiding you to a comprehensive understanding of this Taiwanese specialty black tea that combines historical depth with flavor complexity. [more…]

A heavy downpour brought a distinctive African estate vibe to the coffee festival, and among the many stalls that insisted on staying open, the coffee pop-up stall from milk tea brand Good-mee unexpectedly became the center of attention. Besides the high-value-for-money specialty coffee that drew passersby to check in, the one-day store manager standing behind the bar attracted an even bigger crowd—none other than Boram Julio Um, champion of the 2023 WBC World Barista Championship, founder of Brazilian coffee brand Um Coffee Co., and one of the chief coffee masters collaborating with Luckin. The sight of this highly popular champion shaking milk tea for customers caught many people off guard, with some in the comments even calling out to Luckin, saying "Your handsome guy has been poached by Good-mee." So why exactly did this coffee industry star show up at the Good-mee stall? Let's revisit the lively scene together. [more…]

As new tea beverage brands accelerate their overseas expansion, the density of milk tea shops abroad still lags far behind that in China, making it hard for many students studying overseas to grab a cup of familiar milk tea whenever they want. As a result, some have used existing Starbucks materials to concoct a so-called secret recipe that supposedly comes close to the flavor of Chagee, and it has spread rapidly on social platforms. Can this custom drink truly replicate the taste of Chinese-style milk tea? Different consumers have given wildly different reviews. This article will break down the specific composition of the recipe, the hands-on feedback, and the points of controversy, to help coffee and tea drinkers take a rational view of the so-called "affordable substitute" phenomenon. [more…]

Must you drink alcohol when toasting at a wedding? More and more couples born in the 1990s and 2000s are giving a different answer: replacing baijiu with milk tea. From a Shanghai couple's wedding banquet featuring golden-cup milk tea to the heated discussion of 320,000 posts on social media, this new trend of substituting tea for alcohol is quietly changing the drinking culture at traditional wedding banquets. Why are young people drawn to this approach? And do their elders accept it? This article takes you through this wedding banquet revolution led by new-style tea drinks, and shows how young people are redefining the wedding toast ritual in their own way. [more…]

Catering services on high-speed trains have been continuously upgraded, and now the Guangzhou EMU group has taken the lead in launching its own milk tea brand, "That Girl," priced at 26 yuan per cup, with average daily sales reaching as high as 3,000 cups. The series offers four flavors, and the official claim is that natural ingredients are used and tea concentration and sugar content have been reduced to suit passengers' needs. However, after the product launched, it quickly trended on social media, yet was collectively criticized by netizens over its price, packaging, taste, and marketing methods. At the same time, specialty coffee brands such as Front Street Coffee are also paying attention to this crossover attempt. This article will walk you through the research and development background of high-speed rail milk tea, its market performance, and evaluations from all sides. [more…]

Starbucks' Star Delivery Time-Space series recently launched 4 new products, two of which are milk teas without coffee that have sparked heated discussion. Some speculate this is a signal that Starbucks is entering the milk tea scene after being provoked by Luckin. The new products use a combination of syrup, freshly brewed tea, and milk, with the tea bag placed directly into the drink, allowing customers to add water themselves to extend the flavor. This approach continues the design concept of last year's Time-Space series and has gained recognition from some consumers, but others complain that the tea bag is troublesome to handle and that the flavor is not fully released in cold drinks. The 36-yuan price tag is still considered high by milk tea enthusiasts, making value for money the focus of controversy. Starbucks previously tested pearl milk tea in North America with lackluster results; this time the domestic new products are highly localized, but whether they can break through in the fiercely competitive tea beverage market remains unknown. [more…]