History of bubble tea in Australia (as told by me)

Not many facts exist as to when bubble tea was introduced to Australia. I tried searching up the history of three stores which I have the earliest recollection of – Bubble Cup, Lucky Cup and Happy Cup but this search was fruitless. I then looked up Easy Way which I have been told is one of the oldest-running chains in Sydney. Their official site appears to be dead but their Facebook page claims they were founded in Taiwan in 1992. Even if I allow a couple of extra years for the chain to makes its way to Australian shores, this still suggests that Australian bubble tea history probably predates me and even if it doesn’t, it definitely predates my memory. On that note, the first store I remember was a Bubble Cup in Highpoint. I had the impression it was a drink for cool teenagers. So how did it evolve from this to the product we now know?

I note three key periods in Australian bubble tea history (click on each period for a more detailed account):

1. The Dark Ages (c. 1994 – 2009)

2. The Age of Discovery (2009 – 2017)

3. The Bubble Tea Boom (2017 – Present)

Note: I have tried my best to ensure accuracy for the years certain chains were introduced to Australia but there is still the possibility I might be off by a bit.

So where does bubble tea go to from now and can its popularity be sustained? I think the market (at least the one in Sydney) is reaching or is at saturation point. I don’t see all of the stores which are open today surviving over the next few years. Ensuring survival boils down to offering a quality product. Offering a substandard product at a low price does not work for today’s crowd who is accustomed to and willing to pay for quality. On the other end of the scale, offering a premium product that isn’t backed up by taste also spells failure. These stores experience an opening surge in business but will struggle to retain popularity as consumers return to options that taste just as good (or better) but are cheaper. A similar story exists for stores who offer unique but ultimately lacklustre products, they live and die by the hype they are fueled by.

Even though some stores may close down, I think bubble tea will keep on keeping on. It occupies a space between a pseudo-necessity like coffee and a treat like ice cream. With the trend being a focus on high-quality drinks, the future looks bright.