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The 2025–2026 Bubble Tea Boom in North America: A Complete Guide to 100+ Taiwanese, Chinese and North American Brands

Over the past two years, the North American bubble tea market has officially entered its "Warring States" era.
From Taiwan to China, from new-style tea drinks to homegrown startup brands, from brown sugar boba to fruit tea —
2025–2026 is the key period when bubble tea brands from around the world are moving into the U.S. and Canada in full force.

This article lists more than 100 brands that have opened in North America or are about to, plus a list of the densest bubble tea clusters in Los Angeles's Chinese neighborhoods. It's the most complete reference for new immigrants, international students, franchisees and entrepreneurs.

⭐ 1. Why is 2025–2026 the boom period for bubble tea in North America?

Three main reasons:

1. Growing Asian population + returning international students

Population data show that the Asian population and the number of international students in major North American cities keep rising, so demand for boba keeps growing steadily.

2. Chinese and Taiwanese brands are expanding overseas at the same time

With Asian markets saturated, big brands are treating North America as their next core battleground: HEYTEA, CHAGEE, MIXUE and other new-style tea brands are going all in overseas.

3. North American consumers are far more open to it

Boba has gone from a niche drink to mainstream. Younger Americans now treat bubble tea as a daily treat, and the market keeps growing.

⭐ 2. Taiwanese brands in North America (45 in total)

Below are brands that come from Taiwan or have strong Taiwanese roots and are confirmed to have stores in North America:

[Long-established brands & global chains]

  1. Gong Cha

  2. CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice

  3. Chatime

  4. Sharetea

  5. Ten Ren Tea / Tea Station

  6. Quickly

  7. Tapioca Express

  8. 85°C Bakery Cafe

[Brown sugar / cheese foam / handmade boba]

  1. Tiger Sugar

  2. Jenjudan

  3. Xing Fu Tang

  4. OneZo

  5. The Alley (run by different licensees overseas)

  6. Machi Machi

[Fruit tea & fresh-brewed tea]

  1. Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea

  2. Chun Yang Tea (in both Northern and Southern California)

  3. MACU (expanding fast in California + Seattle)

  4. Chicha San Chen

  5. Presotea (mature North American market)

  6. Dayungs (Canada, plus pop-ups in several places to test the market)

[Local Taiwanese flavor & Taiwanese-style menus]

  1. Wushiland Boba (the overseas arm of 50 Lan)

  2. Meet Fresh

  3. Omomo Tea Shoppe

  4. Tenju Tea House

  5. Boba Ave 8090

  6. Tea Brick

  7. Half & Half Tea Express

  8. Little Fluffy Head

  9. BoBaPOP (overseas licensed stores in some areas)

  10. I-Tea (a Taiwanese-style brand common in the Bay Area)

  11. Teaspoon (born in Silicon Valley, Taiwanese-style drinks)

  12. Happy Lemon (not Taiwanese-owned, but its North American operation is very Taiwanese in style)

  13. Chatime Coffee / new store formats (not counted separately from the main brand)

  14. Ding Tea (a Taiwanese brand, run by franchisees in North America)

  15. TeaLatte Bar

  16. Tea 18 (Taiwanese tea line)

  17. Boba Guys (founded in the U.S., but its sourcing & core menu are thoroughly Taiwanese in spirit)

Taiwanese brands in total: 45

⭐ 3. Chinese new-style tea brands (20 in total)

These brands are expanding fast in Europe, Southeast Asia and North America, and they're the players most worth watching over the past two years:

[Already open in North America]

  1. HEYTEA

  2. CHAGEE

  3. MIXUE

  4. Luckin Coffee (mainly coffee, but its drink lineup overlaps with bubble tea)

  5. A Little Tea / overseas version of Yi Dian Dian

  6. Feng Cha (originated in China, Taiwanese-style menu)

  7. Royaltea

[Preparing for or already announced North American plans]

  1. Nayuki

  2. Guming

  3. ChaPanda

  4. LELECHA

  5. Qi Fen Tian

  6. Sexy Tea (not officially announced, but often named as the brand most eager to go overseas)

  7. Bengong de Cha

  8. Panda Milk Tea (a licensee for Chinese new-style tea drinks)

  9. Yi Dian Dian (if its U.S. licensee isn't counted separately)

  10. Alittle sweet (overseas test stores for some mainland Chinese new-style tea brands)

  11. Modern China Tea Shop

  12. Mixtea / Milksha (China-licensed version)

  13. Mellower Tea (bakery + tea drinks)

Chinese brands in total: 20

⭐ 4. U.S. homegrown brands & Asian American startup brands (40 in total)

Many of these brands were born in the U.S., but their core products are pure Taiwanese-style bubble tea.

[National chains]

  1. Kung Fu Tea

  2. Boba Guys

  3. 7 Leaves Cafe

  4. Tastea

  5. Teaspoon

  6. It’s Boba Time

  7. Sharetea USA (independently operated store format)

  8. Ding Tea USA

  9. Vivi Bubble Tea

  10. Kung Fu Fresh

  11. Sencha Tea Bar

  12. Tiger Tea Chicago

  13. HiTea USA

  14. Human Tea

  15. H Tea O (more American in style, but its drinks are close to bubble tea)

[Common California chains / regional brands]

  1. Omomo (already listed above, not repeated) → removed from this section

  2. Bobaful

  3. Roasting Water

  4. Half & Half To Go

  5. Boba Time variations

  6. TeaMorrow

  7. Bobaville

  8. Brown Sugar Cafe

  9. Leaf & Cream

  10. Sunright Tea Studio

  11. Ume Tea

  12. Labobatory

  13. Mr. Wish (well known on the U.S. East Coast)

  14. Icha Tea

  15. Urban Ritual

  16. Drip Tea

  17. TP Tea (Chun Shui Tang's overseas brand)

  18. YiFang Franchise variations (not a separate brand; listed as a store format)

  19. Mochi Nut + Boba combo stores

  20. Tbaar

  21. Sharetea Co-Brand

  22. Ice Monster (in some cities)

  23. Boba Bar

  24. TeaAmo

  25. Quickly variations (not counted with the main brand)

  26. Local craft boba shops (treated as one category, not counted store by store)

U.S. homegrown & Asian American brands in total: 40

Final count

Category Number of brands
Taiwanese brands 45
Chinese new-style tea 20
U.S. / Asian American local brands 40

Bottom line: where is the North American bubble tea industry headed in 2025–2026?

1. The big brands will keep getting stronger

HEYTEA, MACU, Chun Yang and MACU all have the potential to repeat their success in Asia.

2. "Third-wave tea" will grow stronger

Expect more premium tea leaves, fresh-brewed tea, cold brew and specialty-style drinks.

3. Budget brands will rise too

MIXUE and the Mixue model will break into the student market.

4. Competition will weed out brands that only know how to make boba

Consumers expect more and more from quality, store design and a brand's whole identity.

5. North America is the next main battleground for Chinese and Taiwanese tea brands

2026–2030 will be a golden five years of all-out competition.

I'm C.  I'm from Taiwan and now run a business in Los Angeles. When I first arrived, the challenges were everywhere! From the language barrier to culture shock, every small detail took me a long time to figure out. Those experiences taught me how to adapt quickly here, until I was in my element. I've put years of that experience on this site to help newcomers like me settle into life in the U.S. more easily and quickly. Whether it's moving here, finding a job or handling everyday tasks, you'll find plenty of practical shortcuts and solutions so you can skip the detours. I hope what I share helps you start your new life in America smoothly, with less effort and a lot more fun!

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