Bubble tea chains in New Zealand:Which are most popular?
In September 2026, Gong cha was the most searched bubble tea chain in New Zealand, accounting for 50.7% of all searches among the eight chains we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, Gong cha and Chatime were mentioned most often, in four of the five answers. Gong cha was recommended most often, coming first in all three responses that gave a list.
Gong chaShare of searches 50.7%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
Hulu Cat Tea & MocktailShare of searches 23%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th- WUCHAShare of searches 12.4%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
ChatimeShare of searches 7.1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit TeaShare of searches 3.1%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
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Top bubble tea chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Gong cha and Chatime were mentioned most often, in four of the five answers. Gong cha was recommended most often, coming first in all three answers that gave a list. Chatime was second, and Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea was third. ChaPanda, which ranked sixth in searches, was not mentioned at all.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Gong cha4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Chatime4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Hulu Cat Tea & Mocktail2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- WUCHA1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
ChaPanda0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Noah's Ark Teahouse0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Chia Cha0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about bubble tea chains
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which bubble tea chain should I shop at in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best bubble tea chains in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best bubble tea chain in New Zealand for tapioca drinks?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best bubble tea”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“milk tea nz”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.
Which bubble tea chains do people search for most?
This chart shows how often people search Google for each bubble tea chain by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight bubble tea chains we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Gong cha, Hulu Cat Tea & Mocktail, WUCHA, Chatime, Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Gong cha | Hulu Cat Tea & Mocktail | WUCHA | Chatime | Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea | ChaPanda | Noah's Ark Teahouse | Chia Cha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 55.3% | 21.6% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 1.8% | 0.03% | 1.6% | 0.39% |
| Nov 2025 | 56.2% | 22.1% | 9.7% | 8.3% | 1.4% | 0.3% | 1.6% | 0.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 57.3% | 22.8% | 10% | 6.7% | 1.2% | 0.24% | 1.3% | 0.35% |
| Jan 2026 | 57% | 22.2% | 9.9% | 6.7% | 1.8% | 0.29% | 1.6% | 0.49% |
| Feb 2026 | 56.2% | 22.3% | 9.9% | 8.1% | 1.5% | 0.29% | 1.3% | 0.33% |
| Mar 2026 | 53.3% | 20.4% | 9.1% | 7.4% | 1.9% | 6% | 1.5% | 0.45% |
| Apr 2026 | 58.2% | 18.6% | 10% | 6.8% | 2% | 3% | 1.1% | 0.34% |
| May 2026 | 54.5% | 20.8% | 11.2% | 7.6% | 2.5% | 1.9% | 1.2% | 0.31% |
| Jun 2026 | 58.9% | 18.4% | 10% | 7% | 1.9% | 2% | 1.3% | 0.42% |
| Jul 2026 | 54.5% | 20.9% | 11.2% | 7.5% | 2.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.39% |
| Aug 2026 | 56% | 21.4% | 9.5% | 6.5% | 3.1% | 1.9% | 1.3% | 0.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 50.7% | 23% | 12.4% | 7.1% | 3.1% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 0.43% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 50.7% | 11.9K | -16% | -5.3 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 23% | 5.4K | 0% | +1.7 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 12.4% | 2.9K | +20.8% | +2.9 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 7.1% | 1.7K | +0.61% | +0.6 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 3.1% | 720 | -7.7% | 0 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 1.7% | 390 | -18.8% | -0.2 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 1.7% | 390 | +21.9% | +0.4 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 0.43% | 100 | 0% | 0 points |
1.
Gong cha50.7%
Held 1st. 11.9K estimated branded searches, -16% vs prior month. Share -5.3 points.
Held 2nd. 5.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.7 points.
3.WUCHA
12.4%
Held 3rd. 2.9K estimated branded searches, +20.8% vs prior month. Share +2.9 points.
4.
Chatime7.1%
Held 4th. 1.7K estimated branded searches, +0.61% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.
3.1%
Held 5th. 720 estimated branded searches, -7.7% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
6.
ChaPanda1.7%
Held 6th. 390 estimated branded searches, -18.8% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
1.7%
Held 7th. 390 estimated branded searches, +21.9% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.
8.
Chia Cha0.43%
Held 8th. 100 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Which brand is most popular in search among bubble tea chains in New Zealand?
8 brands
In September 2026, Gong cha was the most searched among bubble tea chains in New Zealand, with an estimated 11.9K branded searches, 50.7% of all searches for the eight we track. Hulu Cat Tea & Mocktail is in 2nd place, 27.6 percentage points behind at 23%.
| Brand | Share of searches | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gong cha | 55.3% → 50.7% | 58.9%Jun 2026 | 50.7%Sep 2026 | 1st |
| Hulu Cat Tea & Mocktail | 21.6% → 23% | 23%Sep 2026 | 18.4%Jun 2026 | 2nd |
| WUCHA | 9.5% → 12.4% | 12.4%Sep 2026 | 9.1%Mar 2026 | 4th → 3rd |
| Chatime | 9.8% → 7.1% | 9.8%Oct 2025 | 6.5%Aug 2026 | 3rd → 4th |
| Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea | 1.8% → 3.1% | 3.1%Aug 2026 | 1.2%Dec 2025 | 5th |
| ChaPanda | 0.03% → 1.7% | 6%Mar 2026 | 0.03%Oct 2025 | 8th → 6th |
| Noah's Ark Teahouse | 1.6% → 1.7% | 1.7%Sep 2026 | 1.1%Apr 2026 | 6th → 7th |
| Chia Cha | 0.39% → 0.43% | 0.49%Jan 2026 | 0.31%May 2026 | 7th → 8th |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Gong cha’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand decreased from 55.3% to 50.7%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hulu Cat Tea & Mocktail’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand increased from 21.6% to 23%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, WUCHA’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand increased from 9.5% to 12.4%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Chatime’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand decreased from 9.8% to 7.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand increased from 1.8% to 3.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ChaPanda’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand increased from 0.03% to 1.7%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Gong cha’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand peaked at 58.9% in June 2026 and was lowest at 50.7% in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hulu Cat Tea & Mocktail’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand peaked at 23% in September 2026 and was lowest at 18.4% in June 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, WUCHA’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand peaked at 12.4% in September 2026 and was lowest at 9.1% in March 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Chatime’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand peaked at 9.8% in October 2025 and was lowest at 6.5% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand peaked at 3.1% in August 2026 and was lowest at 1.2% in December 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ChaPanda’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand peaked at 6% in March 2026 and was lowest at 0.03% in October 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, WUCHA rose from 4th to 3rd among bubble tea chains in New Zealand.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Chatime fell from 3rd to 4th among bubble tea chains in New Zealand.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ChaPanda rose from 8th to 6th among bubble tea chains in New Zealand.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Noah's Ark Teahouse fell from 6th to 7th among bubble tea chains in New Zealand.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Chia Cha fell from 7th to 8th among bubble tea chains in New Zealand.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand bubble tea chains in September 2026?
8 changes
In September 2026, WUCHA gained share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand, from 9.5% to 12.4%.
In September 2026, Hulu Cat Tea & Mocktail gained share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand, from 21.4% to 23%.
In September 2026, Chatime gained share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand, from 6.5% to 7.1%.
In September 2026, Gong cha lost share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand, from 56% to 50.7%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for ChaPanda in New Zealand rose 3800% over 12 measured months, from 10 to 390 in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea in New Zealand rose 30.9% over 12 measured months, from 550 to 720 in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Noah's Ark Teahouse in New Zealand fell 18.8% over 12 measured months, from 480 to 390 in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Chia Cha in New Zealand fell 16.7% over 12 measured months, from 120 to 100 in September 2026.
Compare popularity between leading brands
- Gong cha vs Hulu Cat Tea & Mocktail: compare popularity
- Gong cha vs WUCHA: compare popularity
- Gong cha vs Chatime: compare popularity
- Gong cha vs Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea: compare popularity
- Hulu Cat Tea & Mocktail vs WUCHA: compare popularity
- Hulu Cat Tea & Mocktail vs Chatime: compare popularity
- Hulu Cat Tea & Mocktail vs Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea: compare popularity
- WUCHA vs Chatime: compare popularity
- WUCHA vs Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea: compare popularity
- Chatime vs Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea: compare popularity
- Compare any of these brands
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