Tips & Tricks
Tips & Tricks
How Did Bubble Tea Become So Popular
How Did Bubble Tea Become So Popular
How Did Bubble Tea Become So Popular
23 ก.ค. 2565
23 ก.ค. 2565
At a Glance: The bubble tea trend in Malaysia continues to thrive, driven by smart branding, loyal customers, and efficient operations. Behind the success of many fast-growing bubble tea businesses is the use of modern technology like StoreHub’s all-in-one POS system, which helps manage sales, customise orders, and track inventory in real time. This guide explores how Malaysia’s bubble tea shops stay competitive — and how you can do the same when starting your own. |
|---|
The bubble tea trend in Malaysia has been bustling for many years now. There are even more shops popping up: Bubble Bee, Black Whale, Niko Neko Matcha, Yi Fang etc. These are on top of the big names that are already here, such as Xing Fu Tang, Da Boba, The Alley, and Tealive.
Despite the strong competition in the bubble tea market, these stores still have long queues and sales increasing by the minute!
But have you ever wondered how?
How did the boba tea trend start, and what are these stores doing to continuously make them so successful and popular?
Originating from Taiwan, the pearl milk tea drink with chewy tapioca pearls has taken over the world.
These drinks have become so addictive that people are constantly craving them on a daily basis and would be willing to wait up to 1 hour in line for them!
Is there something in the drinks that keeps everyone coming back for more?
How are bubble tea shops able to serve thousands of customers daily?
What has the bubble tea business done right?
The secret behind the success of the bubble tea industry will finally be SPILLED!
What exactly is bubble tea?
Bubble tea (also known as boba tea) is a popular Taiwanese bubble milk tea drink. It consists of tea combined with milk, sugar, and a topping of tapioca balls (also known as pearls or boba).
Liu Han-Chieh introduced this tapioca-pearl drink to Taiwan in 1983.
Since then, the drink has spread across the world and now features different flavours and toppings, including:
Fruit jelly
Grass jelly
Aloe vera
It comes in various sizes and you can customise it in terms of sugar and ice level. You can even choose your preferred type of milk and cheese topping!
The bubble tea phenomenon:
If this drink was introduced many years ago, why did it only start gaining in popularity now?
Social media, of course!
The crazy demand started from social media!
Bubble tea shops started a trend by creating aesthetic drinks that encouraged customers to post their drinks on social media, which went viral and gained lots of attention. The way the drinks look and taste has become a social phenomenon that everyone wants to be a part of.
According to Straits Research, the Malaysian bubble tea market was valued at $49.8 million in 2018 and is expected to grow 6.9% from 2019 to 2026.
Unlike many trends that have come and gone, the bubble tea trend doesn't seem to be losing popularity anytime soon.
With the stiff competition in bubble tea drinks, how are there still so many shops that are so successful? Here are some tips we've compiled in case you're planning to run a bubble tea shop.
1. Differentiating brands by their own specialTEA
They each have their own differentiating factor, whether it be new drinks, new flavours, or differences in aesthetics.
There are a lot of creative flavours now, such as:
Taro bubble milk tea
Mango green tea
Cheese foam milk tea
Durian bubble milk tea
The variety of toppings has also increased and now includes cheese, popping jelly, egg pudding, chia seeds, and more!
By taking advantage of the rising trend of foodies, who are constantly taking photos of their meals and posting them on social media, bubble tea brands have to think outside of the box and come up with something different to stand out.
This could be from the product itself or even the cups they come in!
For example:
Tealive is known for its outrageous collab with Mamee - the 'Spicy Mi Boba'
Xing Fu Tang is known for their stir-fried boba in brown sugar milk tea
Tiger Sugar's specialty is its creamy bubble milk tea with mousse
The Alley is famous for their brown sugar deerioca (tapioca pearl) bubble tea
Some brands are even known for how visually aesthetic they are, perhaps from its colourful cups, glass mason jars, or even serving their drinks in light bulbs!
Instead of letting the competition stop them, bubble tea brands have used the pressure to become more imaginative and are constantly coming up with new things to go viral on social media and wow customers! This is very important if you want to start a bubble tea business.
2. Customer LoyalTEA attracts customers back
Why do people keep wanting to come back for more? Surely the taste of bubble milk tea would get boring after a while!
Bubble tea stores are best known for their customer loyalty programs.
Something as simple as a stamp card, where they collect stamps for every drink purchased and redeem a free drink or free merchandise after a certain number of stamps, works wonders!
Customers are more enticed to spend if they are able to collect rewards from it!
Customers also feel a sense of belonging, and their self-esteem is boosted when they feel like an exclusive member of a club.
Brands use customer loyalty to get customer data and entice them to come back with promotions tailored to their wants.
Loyal customers are also more likely to recommend your business to their friends, families, or even become ambassadors for your brand on social media!
This will generate word-of-mouth traffic and free publicity for your shop!
Getting started on a customer loyalty program can be super easy! Just pick the right one, and it will give your boba tea business a huge benefit!
3. Bubble tea delivery
What's better than getting a treat of an ice-cold milk tea on a hot day?
Having it delivered to your doorstep so you can enjoy it in the comfort of your own home!
The thought of driving, getting stuck in traffic, and then having to find a parking spot before finally getting in the queue to get your bubble tea - these ordeals can easily take up to an hour (or more) of your time!
4. Having a strong POS system to power your shop
Ever wonder why people are willing to line up and wait 30 minutes to 1 hour for a drink?
Because it's not as long a wait as it seems!
Even though the queues stretch across multiple streets, the line tends to move really quick as orders are taken and served at such a fast pace! What may look like a 30-minute wait is actually 10 minutes max!
In this way, the store makes more sales but does not disappoint customers by having them wait for ages!
In such a quick-paced working environment, how do these small stores manage their operations?
With a smart POS system like StoreHub!
A POS system, like StoreHub, allows these small stores to easily:
Input sales quickly with just a simple tap on the screen
Customise drinks or add on toppings
Efficiently track sales and stock data
Automatically order more supplies when stocks are low
Use a composite inventory, which allows store managers to track how much of each ingredient is used in each product sold. For example, if one bubble milk tea drink uses 50ml of milk, then the system will automatically deduct 50ml of milk from the existing inventory list whenever a sale is made!
There's no longer a need to estimate how many drinks you can make with one carton of milk, as now there's an accurate measurement!
The software is also super user-friendly for staff to use and requires very little training!
Using a POS system is super simple and has helped many small bubble tea stores thrive in the market its in today!
In this day and age, many businesses are using POS systems to help manage and operate better.
What are you waiting for?
Time to get yourself one too! Just select the right one for your bubble tea business, and you'll be able to streamline your business within just one platform!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why is the bubble tea business so successful in Malaysia?
The bubble tea industry in Malaysia continues to grow thanks to its strong social media presence, creative product innovations, and consistent customer engagement. Many shops stand out by offering unique flavours, aesthetic branding, and efficient service powered by POS systems like StoreHub, which help manage orders, track stock, and speed up operations — even during peak hours.
2. How can I start a bubble tea business in Malaysia?
To start a bubble tea shop in Malaysia, you’ll need a solid business plan, reliable suppliers, and the right tools to run operations smoothly. A cloud-based POS system such as StoreHub lets you manage sales, customise drink orders, and automate inventory tracking. Combine this with strong branding, loyalty rewards, and online delivery options to attract and retain customers.
3. What tools do I need to manage a bubble tea shop efficiently?
A successful bubble tea business relies on fast, accurate service. Using an all-in-one POS system like StoreHub helps streamline sales, ingredient tracking, and customer management. You can easily monitor daily performance, customise drinks with multiple toppings, and even automate stock reordering — ensuring your store runs efficiently from day one.
At a Glance: The bubble tea trend in Malaysia continues to thrive, driven by smart branding, loyal customers, and efficient operations. Behind the success of many fast-growing bubble tea businesses is the use of modern technology like StoreHub’s all-in-one POS system, which helps manage sales, customise orders, and track inventory in real time. This guide explores how Malaysia’s bubble tea shops stay competitive — and how you can do the same when starting your own. |
|---|
The bubble tea trend in Malaysia has been bustling for many years now. There are even more shops popping up: Bubble Bee, Black Whale, Niko Neko Matcha, Yi Fang etc. These are on top of the big names that are already here, such as Xing Fu Tang, Da Boba, The Alley, and Tealive.
Despite the strong competition in the bubble tea market, these stores still have long queues and sales increasing by the minute!
But have you ever wondered how?
How did the boba tea trend start, and what are these stores doing to continuously make them so successful and popular?
Originating from Taiwan, the pearl milk tea drink with chewy tapioca pearls has taken over the world.
These drinks have become so addictive that people are constantly craving them on a daily basis and would be willing to wait up to 1 hour in line for them!
Is there something in the drinks that keeps everyone coming back for more?
How are bubble tea shops able to serve thousands of customers daily?
What has the bubble tea business done right?
The secret behind the success of the bubble tea industry will finally be SPILLED!
What exactly is bubble tea?
Bubble tea (also known as boba tea) is a popular Taiwanese bubble milk tea drink. It consists of tea combined with milk, sugar, and a topping of tapioca balls (also known as pearls or boba).
Liu Han-Chieh introduced this tapioca-pearl drink to Taiwan in 1983.
Since then, the drink has spread across the world and now features different flavours and toppings, including:
Fruit jelly
Grass jelly
Aloe vera
It comes in various sizes and you can customise it in terms of sugar and ice level. You can even choose your preferred type of milk and cheese topping!
The bubble tea phenomenon:
If this drink was introduced many years ago, why did it only start gaining in popularity now?
Social media, of course!
The crazy demand started from social media!
Bubble tea shops started a trend by creating aesthetic drinks that encouraged customers to post their drinks on social media, which went viral and gained lots of attention. The way the drinks look and taste has become a social phenomenon that everyone wants to be a part of.
According to Straits Research, the Malaysian bubble tea market was valued at $49.8 million in 2018 and is expected to grow 6.9% from 2019 to 2026.
Unlike many trends that have come and gone, the bubble tea trend doesn't seem to be losing popularity anytime soon.
With the stiff competition in bubble tea drinks, how are there still so many shops that are so successful? Here are some tips we've compiled in case you're planning to run a bubble tea shop.
1. Differentiating brands by their own specialTEA
They each have their own differentiating factor, whether it be new drinks, new flavours, or differences in aesthetics.
There are a lot of creative flavours now, such as:
Taro bubble milk tea
Mango green tea
Cheese foam milk tea
Durian bubble milk tea
The variety of toppings has also increased and now includes cheese, popping jelly, egg pudding, chia seeds, and more!
By taking advantage of the rising trend of foodies, who are constantly taking photos of their meals and posting them on social media, bubble tea brands have to think outside of the box and come up with something different to stand out.
This could be from the product itself or even the cups they come in!
For example:
Tealive is known for its outrageous collab with Mamee - the 'Spicy Mi Boba'
Xing Fu Tang is known for their stir-fried boba in brown sugar milk tea
Tiger Sugar's specialty is its creamy bubble milk tea with mousse
The Alley is famous for their brown sugar deerioca (tapioca pearl) bubble tea
Some brands are even known for how visually aesthetic they are, perhaps from its colourful cups, glass mason jars, or even serving their drinks in light bulbs!
Instead of letting the competition stop them, bubble tea brands have used the pressure to become more imaginative and are constantly coming up with new things to go viral on social media and wow customers! This is very important if you want to start a bubble tea business.
2. Customer LoyalTEA attracts customers back
Why do people keep wanting to come back for more? Surely the taste of bubble milk tea would get boring after a while!
Bubble tea stores are best known for their customer loyalty programs.
Something as simple as a stamp card, where they collect stamps for every drink purchased and redeem a free drink or free merchandise after a certain number of stamps, works wonders!
Customers are more enticed to spend if they are able to collect rewards from it!
Customers also feel a sense of belonging, and their self-esteem is boosted when they feel like an exclusive member of a club.
Brands use customer loyalty to get customer data and entice them to come back with promotions tailored to their wants.
Loyal customers are also more likely to recommend your business to their friends, families, or even become ambassadors for your brand on social media!
This will generate word-of-mouth traffic and free publicity for your shop!
Getting started on a customer loyalty program can be super easy! Just pick the right one, and it will give your boba tea business a huge benefit!
3. Bubble tea delivery
What's better than getting a treat of an ice-cold milk tea on a hot day?
Having it delivered to your doorstep so you can enjoy it in the comfort of your own home!
The thought of driving, getting stuck in traffic, and then having to find a parking spot before finally getting in the queue to get your bubble tea - these ordeals can easily take up to an hour (or more) of your time!
4. Having a strong POS system to power your shop
Ever wonder why people are willing to line up and wait 30 minutes to 1 hour for a drink?
Because it's not as long a wait as it seems!
Even though the queues stretch across multiple streets, the line tends to move really quick as orders are taken and served at such a fast pace! What may look like a 30-minute wait is actually 10 minutes max!
In this way, the store makes more sales but does not disappoint customers by having them wait for ages!
In such a quick-paced working environment, how do these small stores manage their operations?
With a smart POS system like StoreHub!
A POS system, like StoreHub, allows these small stores to easily:
Input sales quickly with just a simple tap on the screen
Customise drinks or add on toppings
Efficiently track sales and stock data
Automatically order more supplies when stocks are low
Use a composite inventory, which allows store managers to track how much of each ingredient is used in each product sold. For example, if one bubble milk tea drink uses 50ml of milk, then the system will automatically deduct 50ml of milk from the existing inventory list whenever a sale is made!
There's no longer a need to estimate how many drinks you can make with one carton of milk, as now there's an accurate measurement!
The software is also super user-friendly for staff to use and requires very little training!
Using a POS system is super simple and has helped many small bubble tea stores thrive in the market its in today!
In this day and age, many businesses are using POS systems to help manage and operate better.
What are you waiting for?
Time to get yourself one too! Just select the right one for your bubble tea business, and you'll be able to streamline your business within just one platform!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why is the bubble tea business so successful in Malaysia?
The bubble tea industry in Malaysia continues to grow thanks to its strong social media presence, creative product innovations, and consistent customer engagement. Many shops stand out by offering unique flavours, aesthetic branding, and efficient service powered by POS systems like StoreHub, which help manage orders, track stock, and speed up operations — even during peak hours.
2. How can I start a bubble tea business in Malaysia?
To start a bubble tea shop in Malaysia, you’ll need a solid business plan, reliable suppliers, and the right tools to run operations smoothly. A cloud-based POS system such as StoreHub lets you manage sales, customise drink orders, and automate inventory tracking. Combine this with strong branding, loyalty rewards, and online delivery options to attract and retain customers.
3. What tools do I need to manage a bubble tea shop efficiently?
A successful bubble tea business relies on fast, accurate service. Using an all-in-one POS system like StoreHub helps streamline sales, ingredient tracking, and customer management. You can easily monitor daily performance, customise drinks with multiple toppings, and even automate stock reordering — ensuring your store runs efficiently from day one.
At a Glance: The bubble tea trend in Malaysia continues to thrive, driven by smart branding, loyal customers, and efficient operations. Behind the success of many fast-growing bubble tea businesses is the use of modern technology like StoreHub’s all-in-one POS system, which helps manage sales, customise orders, and track inventory in real time. This guide explores how Malaysia’s bubble tea shops stay competitive — and how you can do the same when starting your own. |
|---|
The bubble tea trend in Malaysia has been bustling for many years now. There are even more shops popping up: Bubble Bee, Black Whale, Niko Neko Matcha, Yi Fang etc. These are on top of the big names that are already here, such as Xing Fu Tang, Da Boba, The Alley, and Tealive.
Despite the strong competition in the bubble tea market, these stores still have long queues and sales increasing by the minute!
But have you ever wondered how?
How did the boba tea trend start, and what are these stores doing to continuously make them so successful and popular?
Originating from Taiwan, the pearl milk tea drink with chewy tapioca pearls has taken over the world.
These drinks have become so addictive that people are constantly craving them on a daily basis and would be willing to wait up to 1 hour in line for them!
Is there something in the drinks that keeps everyone coming back for more?
How are bubble tea shops able to serve thousands of customers daily?
What has the bubble tea business done right?
The secret behind the success of the bubble tea industry will finally be SPILLED!
What exactly is bubble tea?
Bubble tea (also known as boba tea) is a popular Taiwanese bubble milk tea drink. It consists of tea combined with milk, sugar, and a topping of tapioca balls (also known as pearls or boba).
Liu Han-Chieh introduced this tapioca-pearl drink to Taiwan in 1983.
Since then, the drink has spread across the world and now features different flavours and toppings, including:
Fruit jelly
Grass jelly
Aloe vera
It comes in various sizes and you can customise it in terms of sugar and ice level. You can even choose your preferred type of milk and cheese topping!
The bubble tea phenomenon:
If this drink was introduced many years ago, why did it only start gaining in popularity now?
Social media, of course!
The crazy demand started from social media!
Bubble tea shops started a trend by creating aesthetic drinks that encouraged customers to post their drinks on social media, which went viral and gained lots of attention. The way the drinks look and taste has become a social phenomenon that everyone wants to be a part of.
According to Straits Research, the Malaysian bubble tea market was valued at $49.8 million in 2018 and is expected to grow 6.9% from 2019 to 2026.
Unlike many trends that have come and gone, the bubble tea trend doesn't seem to be losing popularity anytime soon.
With the stiff competition in bubble tea drinks, how are there still so many shops that are so successful? Here are some tips we've compiled in case you're planning to run a bubble tea shop.
1. Differentiating brands by their own specialTEA
They each have their own differentiating factor, whether it be new drinks, new flavours, or differences in aesthetics.
There are a lot of creative flavours now, such as:
Taro bubble milk tea
Mango green tea
Cheese foam milk tea
Durian bubble milk tea
The variety of toppings has also increased and now includes cheese, popping jelly, egg pudding, chia seeds, and more!
By taking advantage of the rising trend of foodies, who are constantly taking photos of their meals and posting them on social media, bubble tea brands have to think outside of the box and come up with something different to stand out.
This could be from the product itself or even the cups they come in!
For example:
Tealive is known for its outrageous collab with Mamee - the 'Spicy Mi Boba'
Xing Fu Tang is known for their stir-fried boba in brown sugar milk tea
Tiger Sugar's specialty is its creamy bubble milk tea with mousse
The Alley is famous for their brown sugar deerioca (tapioca pearl) bubble tea
Some brands are even known for how visually aesthetic they are, perhaps from its colourful cups, glass mason jars, or even serving their drinks in light bulbs!
Instead of letting the competition stop them, bubble tea brands have used the pressure to become more imaginative and are constantly coming up with new things to go viral on social media and wow customers! This is very important if you want to start a bubble tea business.
2. Customer LoyalTEA attracts customers back
Why do people keep wanting to come back for more? Surely the taste of bubble milk tea would get boring after a while!
Bubble tea stores are best known for their customer loyalty programs.
Something as simple as a stamp card, where they collect stamps for every drink purchased and redeem a free drink or free merchandise after a certain number of stamps, works wonders!
Customers are more enticed to spend if they are able to collect rewards from it!
Customers also feel a sense of belonging, and their self-esteem is boosted when they feel like an exclusive member of a club.
Brands use customer loyalty to get customer data and entice them to come back with promotions tailored to their wants.
Loyal customers are also more likely to recommend your business to their friends, families, or even become ambassadors for your brand on social media!
This will generate word-of-mouth traffic and free publicity for your shop!
Getting started on a customer loyalty program can be super easy! Just pick the right one, and it will give your boba tea business a huge benefit!
3. Bubble tea delivery
What's better than getting a treat of an ice-cold milk tea on a hot day?
Having it delivered to your doorstep so you can enjoy it in the comfort of your own home!
The thought of driving, getting stuck in traffic, and then having to find a parking spot before finally getting in the queue to get your bubble tea - these ordeals can easily take up to an hour (or more) of your time!
4. Having a strong POS system to power your shop
Ever wonder why people are willing to line up and wait 30 minutes to 1 hour for a drink?
Because it's not as long a wait as it seems!
Even though the queues stretch across multiple streets, the line tends to move really quick as orders are taken and served at such a fast pace! What may look like a 30-minute wait is actually 10 minutes max!
In this way, the store makes more sales but does not disappoint customers by having them wait for ages!
In such a quick-paced working environment, how do these small stores manage their operations?
With a smart POS system like StoreHub!
A POS system, like StoreHub, allows these small stores to easily:
Input sales quickly with just a simple tap on the screen
Customise drinks or add on toppings
Efficiently track sales and stock data
Automatically order more supplies when stocks are low
Use a composite inventory, which allows store managers to track how much of each ingredient is used in each product sold. For example, if one bubble milk tea drink uses 50ml of milk, then the system will automatically deduct 50ml of milk from the existing inventory list whenever a sale is made!
There's no longer a need to estimate how many drinks you can make with one carton of milk, as now there's an accurate measurement!
The software is also super user-friendly for staff to use and requires very little training!
Using a POS system is super simple and has helped many small bubble tea stores thrive in the market its in today!
In this day and age, many businesses are using POS systems to help manage and operate better.
What are you waiting for?
Time to get yourself one too! Just select the right one for your bubble tea business, and you'll be able to streamline your business within just one platform!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why is the bubble tea business so successful in Malaysia?
The bubble tea industry in Malaysia continues to grow thanks to its strong social media presence, creative product innovations, and consistent customer engagement. Many shops stand out by offering unique flavours, aesthetic branding, and efficient service powered by POS systems like StoreHub, which help manage orders, track stock, and speed up operations — even during peak hours.
2. How can I start a bubble tea business in Malaysia?
To start a bubble tea shop in Malaysia, you’ll need a solid business plan, reliable suppliers, and the right tools to run operations smoothly. A cloud-based POS system such as StoreHub lets you manage sales, customise drink orders, and automate inventory tracking. Combine this with strong branding, loyalty rewards, and online delivery options to attract and retain customers.
3. What tools do I need to manage a bubble tea shop efficiently?
A successful bubble tea business relies on fast, accurate service. Using an all-in-one POS system like StoreHub helps streamline sales, ingredient tracking, and customer management. You can easily monitor daily performance, customise drinks with multiple toppings, and even automate stock reordering — ensuring your store runs efficiently from day one.
Related Posts
Related Posts
คุยกับผู้เชี่ยวชาญของเรา
Easy to use
for anyone
Safe and Secure
Transactions
Integrated with
various platforms
Trusted by 18,000+ businesses across Southeast Asia
คุยกับผู้เชี่ยวชาญของเรา
Easy to use
for anyone
Safe and Secure
Transactions
Integrated with
various platforms
Trusted by 18,000+ businesses across Southeast Asia
คุยกับผู้เชี่ยวชาญของเรา
Easy to use
for anyone
Safe and Secure
Transactions
Integrated with
various platforms
Trusted by 18,000+ businesses across Southeast Asia
StoreHub เป็นระบบการจัดการร้านค้าแบบ all-in-one ขับเคลื่อนกว่า 18,000+ ธุรกิจร้านค้า ทั่วเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ ไม่ว่าจะเป็น ร้านอาหาร ร้านค้าปลีก เสื้อผ้า เครื่องประดับ และ ธุรกิจบริการ
© Copyright 2025 StoreHub | เงื่อนไขการใช้บริการ | นโยบายส่วนบุคคล
StoreHub เป็นระบบการจัดการร้านค้าแบบ all-in-one ขับเคลื่อนกว่า 18,000+ ธุรกิจร้านค้า ทั่วเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ ไม่ว่าจะเป็น ร้านอาหาร ร้านค้าปลีก เสื้อผ้า เครื่องประดับ และ ธุรกิจบริการ
© Copyright 2025 StoreHub | เงื่อนไขการใช้บริการ | นโยบายส่วนบุคคล
StoreHub เป็นระบบการจัดการร้านค้าแบบ all-in-one ขับเคลื่อนกว่า 18,000+ ธุรกิจร้านค้า ทั่วเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ ไม่ว่าจะเป็น ร้านอาหาร ร้านค้าปลีก เสื้อผ้า เครื่องประดับ และ ธุรกิจบริการ
© Copyright 2025 StoreHub | เงื่อนไขการใช้บริการ | นโยบายส่วนบุคคล