Brandwave

Gong cha vs Kung Fu Tea:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Gong cha had more branded searches than Kung Fu Tea among bubble tea chains worldwide. Gong cha had about 1 million branded searches, while Kung Fu Tea had 301,000. Gong cha made up 47.3% of all bubble tea chain searches we track, and Kung Fu Tea accounted for 14.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about bubble tea chains, both Gong cha and Kung Fu Tea appeared in all four answers. Gong cha and Kung Fu Tea were each mentioned first in two of the four answers.

Among bubble tea chains worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Gong cha, about 3 searches for every 1 for Kung Fu Tea

Gong cha 1M searchesKung Fu Tea 301K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Gong cha in 4 of 4Kung Fu Tea in 4 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.

Gong cha first in 2Kung Fu Tea first in 2

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Top bubble tea chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, both Gong cha and Kung Fu Tea showed up in all four answers. Gong cha and Kung Fu Tea were each listed first in two of the four answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Gong cha1st
  2. Kung Fu Tea2nd
  3. Sharetea3rd
  4. CoCo4th
  5. Tiger Sugar5th
  6. Chatime6th
  7. Happy Lemon7th
  8. ChaPanda–
  9. Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Gong cha4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Kung Fu Tea4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Sharetea4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • CoCo4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Tiger Sugar3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Happy Lemon2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Chatime1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • ChaPanda0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about bubble tea chains

4 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Gong cha or Kung Fu Tea more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Gong cha and Kung Fu Tea by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine bubble tea chains we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Gong cha and Kung Fu Tea among bubble tea chains worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Gong cha, Kung Fu Tea. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGong chaChatimeKung Fu TeaHappy LemonShareteaTiger SugarChaPandaYi Fang Taiwan Fruit TeaCoCo
Oct 202543%15.8%19.4%7.1%7.1%4.7%0.64%2.1%0.1%
Nov 202546%13.8%16.9%7.6%7.6%5.1%0.68%2.3%0.11%
Dec 202541.2%15.2%22.7%6.8%6.8%4.5%0.75%2%0.1%
Jan 202644.2%13.3%19.9%7.3%7.3%4.9%0.8%2.2%0.13%
Feb 202647.9%14.4%17.6%6.5%6.5%4.3%0.71%1.9%0.09%
Mar 202642.8%15.7%19.3%7.1%7.1%4.7%1.2%2.1%0.1%
Apr 202642.8%15.8%19.3%7.1%7.1%4.7%1.2%2.1%0.08%
May 202648.6%14.7%14.7%8%6.6%4.4%1.1%2%0.12%
Jun 202644.9%16.5%16.5%7.4%6.1%4.9%1.2%2.2%0.11%
Jul 202644.7%16.4%16.4%7.4%6%4.9%1.8%2.2%0.08%
Aug 202644.7%16.4%16.4%7.4%6%4.9%1.8%2.2%0.08%
Sep 202647.3%17.4%14.2%6.4%6.4%4.3%1.9%1.9%0.09%

How has the Gong cha and Kung Fu Tea comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Gong cha was ahead of Kung Fu Tea in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Gong cha’s share of searches among bubble tea chains worldwide moved from 43% to 47.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kung Fu Tea’s share of searches among bubble tea chains worldwide moved from 19.4% to 14.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 450K to 301K.

How did search popularity change for bubble tea chains worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Gong cha gained share of searches among bubble tea chains worldwide, from 44.7% to 47.3%.

  2. In September 2026, Kung Fu Tea lost share of searches among bubble tea chains worldwide, from 16.4% to 14.2%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Gong cha’s and Kung Fu Tea’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Gong cha

1 branded search term

  • gong cha

Kung Fu Tea

1 branded search term

  • kung fu tea

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among bubble tea chains

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