Brandwave

How popular isGong cha?

In September 2026, people searched for Gong cha by name about 246,000 times in the United States, a 33.2% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 26.5% of all United States bubble tea chain searches, placing Gong cha second out of nine chains. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about bubble tea chains, Gong cha appeared in three of the four answers and was the most recommended of the nine.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Gong cha is the second most searched of 9 competitors and the most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Kung Fu TeaShare of searches 32.4%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. Gong chaShare of searches 26.5%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  3. Happy LemonShare of searches 11.8%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  4. Feng ChaShare of searches 9.7%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  5. ShareteaShare of searches 9.7%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd

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Top bubble tea chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Gong cha was mentioned in three out of four: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Gong cha is the most recommended of the nine.

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. Happy Lemon4th
  5. Feng Cha5th
  6. The Alley6th
  7. Tiger Sugar7th
  8. Boba Guys8th
  9. Presotea–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Kung Fu Tea4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Gong cha3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Sharetea3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Happy Lemon2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Feng Cha2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • The Alley2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Tiger Sugar1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Boba Guys1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Presotea0 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 United States on October 23, 2026.

Which bubble tea chains compete with Gong cha?

Gong cha against bubble tea chains in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Kung Fu Tea, Gong cha, Happy Lemon, Feng Cha, Sharetea, Tiger Sugar. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthKung Fu TeaGong chaHappy LemonFeng ChaShareteaTiger SugarBoba GuysPresoteaThe Alley
Oct 202530.5%30.5%11.2%9.1%9.1%6.1%1.8%1.2%0.4%
Nov 202532.3%26.4%11.9%9.7%9.7%6.5%2%1.3%0.29%
Dec 202536.9%24.7%11.1%9%9%6.1%1.8%1.2%0.26%
Jan 202632.2%26.4%11.8%9.6%9.6%6.5%1.9%1.6%0.35%
Feb 202629.8%29.8%10.9%9%10.9%6%1.8%1.5%0.33%
Mar 202636.8%24.6%11%9%9%6%1.8%1.5%0.33%
Apr 202636.9%24.7%11.1%9%9%6.1%1.5%1.5%0.28%
May 202631.4%25.7%14.1%9.4%9.4%6.3%1.9%1.5%0.28%
Jun 202633%27%12.1%8.1%9.9%6.6%1.6%1.3%0.3%
Jul 202628.7%28.7%12.9%8.6%10.5%7.1%1.7%1.4%0.31%
Aug 202628.7%28.7%12.9%8.6%10.5%7.1%1.7%1.4%0.32%
Sep 202632.4%26.5%11.8%9.7%9.7%6.5%1.6%1.3%0.35%

  1. 1.Kung Fu Tea

    32.4%

    Moved from 2nd to 1st. 301K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +3.7 points.

  2. 2.Gong cha

    26.5%

    Moved from 1st to 2nd. 246K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -2.2 points.

  3. 3.Happy Lemon

    11.8%

    Held 3rd. 110K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -1 points.

  4. 4.Feng Cha

    9.7%

    Moved from 5th to 4th. 90.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.1 points.

  5. 5.Sharetea

    9.7%

    Moved from 4th to 5th. 90.5K estimated branded searches, -17.7% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.

  6. 6.Tiger Sugar

    6.5%

    Held 6th. 60.5K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  7. 7.Boba Guys

    1.6%

    Held 7th. 14.8K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  8. 8.Presotea

    1.3%

    Held 8th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  9. 9.The Alley

    0.35%

    Held 9th. 3.2K estimated branded searches, -4.7% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Gong cha and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Gong cha

8 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Gong cha changed in the United States over the last 12 months?

4 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Gong cha in the United States fell from 368K to 246K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Gong cha’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States decreased from 30.5% to 26.5%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Gong cha’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States peaked at 30.5% in October 2025 and was lowest at 24.6% in March 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Gong cha fell from 1st to 2nd among bubble tea chains in the United States.

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

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Kung Fu Tea overtook Gong cha to become the leader among bubble tea chains in the United States, with 32.4% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Feng Cha overtook Sharetea to rank 4th among bubble tea chains in the United States, with 9.7% of the searches.

  3. In September 2026, Gong cha lost share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States, from 28.7% to 26.5%.

  4. In September 2026, Happy Lemon lost share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States, from 12.9% to 11.8%.

  5. In September 2026, Sharetea lost share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States, from 10.5% to 9.7%.

  6. In September 2026, Tiger Sugar lost share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States, from 7.1% to 6.5%.

How are Gong cha’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Gong cha’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • gong cha

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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