Brandwave

Chatime vs Gong cha:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Gong cha had more branded searches than Chatime among bubble tea chains in New Zealand. Gong cha had about 11,900 branded searches, while Chatime had 1,660. Gong cha made up 50.7% of all bubble tea chain searches we track, and Chatime accounted for 7.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about bubble tea chains, Chatime and Gong cha each appeared in four of the five answers. Gong cha was mentioned before Chatime in every answer.

Among bubble tea chains in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Gong cha, about 7 searches for every 1 for Chatime

Gong cha 11.9K searchesChatime 1.7K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.

Chatime in 4 of 5Gong cha in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Gong cha, named ahead of Chatime in every answer

Gong cha first in 3Chatime never first

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Top bubble tea chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Chatime and Gong cha were each mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Gong cha was listed before Chatime in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Gong cha1st
  2. Chatime2nd
  3. Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea3rd
  4. Hulu Cat Tea & Mocktail4th
  5. WUCHA5th
  6. ChaPanda–
  7. Noah's Ark Teahouse–
  8. Chia Cha–

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

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.

Is Chatime or Gong cha more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Chatime and Gong cha 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.

Chatime and Gong cha among bubble tea chains in New Zealand, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGong chaHulu Cat Tea & MocktailWUCHAChatimeYi Fang Taiwan Fruit TeaChaPandaNoah's Ark TeahouseChia Cha
Oct 202555.3%21.6%9.5%9.8%1.8%0.03%1.6%0.39%
Nov 202556.2%22.1%9.7%8.3%1.4%0.3%1.6%0.4%
Dec 202557.3%22.8%10%6.7%1.2%0.24%1.3%0.35%
Jan 202657%22.2%9.9%6.7%1.8%0.29%1.6%0.49%
Feb 202656.2%22.3%9.9%8.1%1.5%0.29%1.3%0.33%
Mar 202653.3%20.4%9.1%7.4%1.9%6%1.5%0.45%
Apr 202658.2%18.6%10%6.8%2%3%1.1%0.34%
May 202654.5%20.8%11.2%7.6%2.5%1.9%1.2%0.31%
Jun 202658.9%18.4%10%7%1.9%2%1.3%0.42%
Jul 202654.5%20.9%11.2%7.5%2.5%1.5%1.5%0.39%
Aug 202656%21.4%9.5%6.5%3.1%1.9%1.3%0.4%
Sep 202650.7%23%12.4%7.1%3.1%1.7%1.7%0.43%

How has the Chatime and Gong cha comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Gong cha was ahead of Chatime in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Chatime’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand moved from 9.8% to 7.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 3K to 1.7K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Gong cha’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand moved from 55.3% to 50.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 16.9K to 11.9K.

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

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Chatime gained share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand, from 6.5% to 7.1%.

  2. In September 2026, Gong cha lost share of searches among bubble tea chains in New Zealand, from 56% to 50.7%.

How are branded searches counted?

28 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Chatime’s and Gong cha’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.

Chatime

14 branded search terms

  • cha time bubble tea
  • cha time milk tea
  • cha time pearls
  • cha time taro
  • chatime
  • chatime boba
  • chatime bubble tea
  • chatime fruit tea
  • chatime matcha
  • chatime milk tea
  • chatime pearl
  • chatime queen street
  • chatime taro
  • chatime tea

Gong cha

14 branded search terms

  • gong cha
  • gong cha boba
  • gong cha botany
  • gong cha cbd
  • gong cha city
  • gong cha delivery
  • gong cha dirtea
  • gong cha drink
  • gong cha hamilton
  • gong cha keychain
  • gong cha menu
  • gong cha order
  • gong cha tea
  • gongcha

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among bubble tea chains

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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