Gong Cha (Global Edition): What Are Their Bestsellers? (Based on Official Data) 2025

 

What Is Gong Cha?
Gong Cha — which means “tribute tea for the emperor” — was founded in 2006 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and has since grown into one of the world’s most recognized bubble tea brands, with over 2,100 stores in 20+ countries.

What Makes Gong Cha Stand Out:
• ✅ Signature Foam Series
• 🧊 Customizable Everything – sugar, ice, toppings
• 🍵 Freshly Brewed Tea Bases – like Oolong, Alisan, Green, and Earl Grey
• 🌏 Region-Specific Bestsellers – menus vary by country to suit local tastes

🍶 Signature Foam Series (Milk Foam Series)

One of Gong Cha’s most iconic offerings, the Signature Foam Series features thick, creamy milk foam poured over freshly brewed teas.
• The foam is slightly salty, slightly sweet, and adds a rich, velvety finish.
• Best enjoyed by sipping without a straw, so you get both the foam and tea in each sip.
• It elevates a simple tea into a layered, café-style experience.
🧋 A must-try for newcomers — especially with Green Tea, Alisan Tea, or Earl Grey as the base.

So… What Should You Order at Gong Cha?

Let’s be real — the menu is a lot. Toppings, tea bases, foam/no foam, sugar levels… it’s overwhelming. But I wanted to figure out what people actually love. So I did the digging.

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🥇 Gong Cha’s Famous Five: Global Favorites

After checking bestseller lists, regional menus, and customer data from official sites — here are the Top 5 drinks:

1. Milk Tea with Pearls
   The boba classic. Always relevant, forever loved.
   • Creamy, customizable, and made with freshly brewed black or oolong tea.
   • Usually paired with tapioca pearls — chewy, soft, and just the right sweetness.
   • Popular in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, the UK, and more.

2. QQ Passionfruit Green Tea
   Fruity, zesty, and full of texture.
   • “QQ” = Taiwanese slang for chewy — includes pearls and coconut jelly.
   • Refreshing green tea base with tropical passionfruit.
   • Loved in South Korea, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

3. Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea
   Sweet, rich, and indulgent.
   • Made with caramelized brown sugar syrup, fresh milk, and soft pearls.
   • Not tea-heavy — perfect for dessert lovers.
   • A top pick in Malaysia, USA, and the Philippines.

4. Taro Milk with Pearls
   Earthy and comforting.
   • Often made with real taro puree or high-quality taro powder.
   • Naturally purple, rich in flavor, and lightly sweet.
   • Loved in Taiwan, the Philippines, and parts of the U.S.

5. Strawberry Matcha Milk Tea
   A stunning, layered drink that mixes fruity and earthy.
   • Sweet strawberry milk layered under strong matcha (green tea).
   • Visual and flavor appeal make it a fan favorite in Asia.
   • Popular in Japan, Korea, and the Philippines.

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🏆 Gong Cha Official Bestsellers by Country (September 2025)

1. Earl Grey Milk Tea with 3J — Japan
   The perfect balance of fragrant Earl Grey tea with creamy milk, topped with 3J (pearls, pudding, and herbal jelly) for texture and fun. Japan’s crowd-pleaser, loved for its rich flavor and chewy toppings.

2. Gong Cha Black Forest — USA
   A decadent, chocolate-infused drink layered with cream and pearls — dessert and tea combined. Popular in the USA for those who want something indulgent and unique.

3. Alisan Tea — Singapore
   A smooth, floral oolong tea known for its delicate aroma and clean finish. Singapore’s bestseller for tea purists who enjoy light, fragrant brews.

4. Milk Tea with Herbal Jelly — Brunei
   Classic milk tea enhanced with herbal jelly — a slightly herbal, chewy topping that adds depth. Brunei’s favorite twist on traditional milk tea.

5. Lemon Juice with White Pearl and Aiyu Jelly — Taiwan
   A refreshing, tangy lemon drink with soft white pearls and aiyu jelly for a cool texture. Taiwan’s go-to for a thirst-quenching fruit tea experience.

6. Gong Cha Green Tea — United Kingdom
   Clean, fresh green tea served simply or with toppings — a lighter tea option. The UK’s preferred choice for a healthy, crisp tea drink.

7. Brown Sugar Fresh Milk with Pearls — Malaysia
   Sweet caramelized brown sugar syrup swirled with fresh milk and soft tapioca pearls. Malaysia’s indulgent bestseller for sweet milk tea lovers.

8. Lemon Wintermelon — Philippines
   A fruity, lightly sweetened wintermelon tea with a hint of lemon for freshness. Popular in the Philippines for its refreshing and unique flavor.

9. QQ Passionfruit Green Tea — South Korea
   A zesty passionfruit green tea with QQ (chewy) pearls and coconut jelly. South Korea’s vibrant, textured favorite.

10. Mango Alisan Tea — Australia
    Floral Alisan tea blended with sweet mango for a tropical twist. Australia’s top choice for fruity, aromatic tea.

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📊 Official Bestsellers: Gong Cha by Country (As of September 2025)

Country	#1 Drink
🇯🇵 Japan	Earl Grey Milk Tea with 3J
🇺🇸 USA	Gong Cha Black Forest
🇸🇬 Singapore	Alisan Tea
🇧🇳 Brunei	Milk Tea with Herbal Jelly
🇹🇼 Taiwan	Lemon Juice with White Pearl and Aiyu Jelly
🇬🇧 UK	Gong Cha Green Tea
🇲🇾 Malaysia	Brown Sugar Fresh Milk with Pearls
🇵🇭 Philippines	Lemon Wintermelon
🇰🇷 South Korea	QQ Passionfruit Green Tea
🇦🇺 Australia	Mango Alisan Tea

Note: As of September 2025, this info is sourced from Gong Cha’s official regional websites and menus.

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Notable Mentions:

Milk Foam Green Tea / Black Tea
Signature item globally — top pick in Korea, Australia, US, Taiwan
Why it’s a must-try: That signature milk foam adds a rich, savory-sweet cap to a simple brewed tea. Sip without the straw to get the layered effect.
Great if: You’re into foam drinks, want something not too sweet, and love strong tea flavor.

Honey Lemon Green Tea
Bestselling fruit tea in Australia, Korea, Southeast Asia
Why it’s a must-try: Light, citrusy, and ultra-refreshing. The honey balances the tartness, making this a go-to on hot days.
Great if: You prefer something fresh, fruity, and not milky.

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✅ Bonus Mentions (Regional Favorites)

• Panda Milk Tea (Taiwan, Singapore): A mix of black and white pearls
• Matcha Milk Foam (Japan, Korea): Earthy matcha with salty foam
• Strawberry Milk Tea (Philippines, Australia): Fruity and creamy
• Lychee Oolong Tea (Singapore, Malaysia): Floral and tropical

Final Thoughts

Gong Cha has a strong global presence, proven by its wide regional menus and diverse drink offerings. What sets Gong Cha apart is its glocal strategy — globally consistent quality combined with region-specific hits.

You’ll notice some universal themes:
• Creamy milk teas still dominate (Milk Tea with Pearls, Brown Sugar)
• Fruit teas are popular in hot-weather markets (QQ Passionfruit, Lemon Wintermelon)
• Texture matters — drinks with jelly, pearls, or pudding trend highly

From foam-topped teas to chewy-textured 3J combos, there’s something for every palate. If you're a first-timer, start with their signature milk foam tea or the Earl Grey 3J — they showcase Gong Cha at its best. Or simply go for the global top 5, which are bestsellers for a reason.

Personally, I tried the taro milk, and I have to say, the taste grows on you. It’s so good that I kept wondering if it’s made with real taro or just flavoring. But I’m still old-fashioned — I loved the Milk Foam Tea. It’s simple but surprisingly addictive. One mistake I made was going full-on healthy with no sugar, which wasn’t a good call; I think it really needs sugar to bring out the flavor.

📍 Coming Up Next: Gong Cha Regional Editions
After exploring global favorites, I’ll be zooming in on what people actually order in different parts of the world.

Here’s what’s lined up:

1. 🇺🇸 USA & Canada Edition – What’s trending in North America? Spoiler: It's sweet and indulgent.

2. 🇦🇺🇳🇿 Australia & New Zealand Edition – Fruity blends, less sugar, and fresh takes on milk foam.

3. 🇸🇬🇲🇾 Singapore & Malaysia Edition – Local twists, nostalgic flavors, and underrated gems.

📬 Follow along if you want to discover your next favorite drink — or see if your go-to order made the list.

– Annabel