Bubble tea chains in the United States:Which are most popular?
In September 2026, Kung Fu Tea was the most searched bubble tea chain in the United States, accounting for 32.4% of all searches among the nine chains we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, Kung Fu Tea showed up in every answer. Gong cha was recommended most often, coming first in two out of three responses that gave a list.
Kung Fu TeaShare of searches 32.4%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
Gong chaShare of searches 26.5%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
Happy LemonShare of searches 11.8%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th- Feng ChaShare of searches 9.7%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
ShareteaShare of searches 9.7%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
Follow bubble tea chains and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top bubble tea chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Kung Fu Tea appeared every time. Gong cha was recommended most often, coming first in two out of three answers that gave a list. Kung Fu Tea was second, and Sharetea was third. Presotea, which ranked eighth in searches, was not mentioned at all.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Gong cha1st
- Kung Fu Tea2nd
- Sharetea3rd
- Happy Lemon4th
- Feng Cha5th
The Alley6th
Tiger Sugar7th
Boba Guys8th
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
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best bubble tea chain in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which boba chain in the US has the best milk tea?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the most popular bubble tea chains in the US?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“bubble tea”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“boba near me”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
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 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 nine bubble tea chains we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
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
| Month | Kung Fu Tea | Gong cha | Happy Lemon | Feng Cha | Sharetea | Tiger Sugar | Boba Guys | Presotea | The Alley |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 30.5% | 30.5% | 11.2% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 6.1% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 32.3% | 26.4% | 11.9% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 6.5% | 2% | 1.3% | 0.29% |
| Dec 2025 | 36.9% | 24.7% | 11.1% | 9% | 9% | 6.1% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.26% |
| Jan 2026 | 32.2% | 26.4% | 11.8% | 9.6% | 9.6% | 6.5% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 0.35% |
| Feb 2026 | 29.8% | 29.8% | 10.9% | 9% | 10.9% | 6% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.33% |
| Mar 2026 | 36.8% | 24.6% | 11% | 9% | 9% | 6% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.33% |
| Apr 2026 | 36.9% | 24.7% | 11.1% | 9% | 9% | 6.1% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.28% |
| May 2026 | 31.4% | 25.7% | 14.1% | 9.4% | 9.4% | 6.3% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 0.28% |
| Jun 2026 | 33% | 27% | 12.1% | 8.1% | 9.9% | 6.6% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.3% |
| Jul 2026 | 28.7% | 28.7% | 12.9% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 7.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.31% |
| Aug 2026 | 28.7% | 28.7% | 12.9% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 7.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.32% |
| Sep 2026 | 32.4% | 26.5% | 11.8% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 6.5% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.35% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, moved from 2nd to 1st | 32.4% | 301K | 0% | +3.7 pointsmoved from 2nd to 1st | |
| 2, moved from 1st to 2nd | 26.5% | 246K | -18.3% | -2.2 pointsmoved from 1st to 2nd | |
| 3, held 3rd | 11.8% | 110K | -18.5% | -1 points | |
| 4, moved from 5th to 4th | 9.7% | 90.5K | 0% | +1.1 pointsmoved from 5th to 4th | |
| 5, moved from 4th to 5th | 9.7% | 90.5K | -17.7% | -0.8 pointsmoved from 4th to 5th | |
| 6, held 6th | 6.5% | 60.5K | -18.2% | -0.5 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 1.6% | 14.8K | -18.2% | -0.1 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 1.3% | 12.1K | -18.2% | -0.1 points | |
| 9, held 9th | 0.35% | 3.2K | -4.7% | 0 points |
32.4%
Moved from 2nd to 1st. 301K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +3.7 points.
2.
Gong cha26.5%
Moved from 1st to 2nd. 246K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -2.2 points.
11.8%
Held 3rd. 110K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -1 points.
4.Feng Cha
9.7%
Moved from 5th to 4th. 90.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.1 points.
5.
Sharetea9.7%
Moved from 4th to 5th. 90.5K estimated branded searches, -17.7% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.
6.5%
Held 6th. 60.5K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.
1.6%
Held 7th. 14.8K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
8.
Presotea1.3%
Held 8th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
0.35%
Held 9th. 3.2K estimated branded searches, -4.7% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Which brand is most popular in search among bubble tea chains in the United States?
9 brands
In September 2026, Kung Fu Tea was the most searched among bubble tea chains in the United States, with an estimated 301K branded searches, 32.4% of all searches for the nine we track. Gong cha is in 2nd place, 5.9 percentage points behind at 26.5%.
| Brand | Share of searches | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kung Fu Tea | 30.5% → 32.4% | 36.9%Apr 2026 | 28.7%Aug 2026 | 2nd → 1st |
| Gong cha | 30.5% → 26.5% | 30.5%Oct 2025 | 24.6%Mar 2026 | 1st → 2nd |
| Happy Lemon | 11.2% → 11.8% | 14.1%May 2026 | 10.9%Feb 2026 | 3rd |
| Feng Cha | 9.1% → 9.7% | 9.7%Sep 2026 | 8.1%Jun 2026 | 4th |
| Sharetea | 9.1% → 9.7% | 10.9%Feb 2026 | 9%Mar 2026 | 5th |
| Tiger Sugar | 6.1% → 6.5% | 7.1%Jul 2026 | 6%Feb 2026 | 6th |
| Boba Guys | 1.8% → 1.6% | 2%Nov 2025 | 1.5%Apr 2026 | 7th |
| Presotea | 1.2% → 1.3% | 1.6%Jan 2026 | 1.2%Dec 2025 | 8th |
| The Alley | 0.4% → 0.35% | 0.4%Oct 2025 | 0.26%Dec 2025 | 9th |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kung Fu Tea’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States increased from 30.5% to 32.4%.
- 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, Happy Lemon’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States increased from 11.2% to 11.8%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Feng Cha’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States increased from 9.1% to 9.7%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sharetea’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States increased from 9.1% to 9.7%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kung Fu Tea’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States peaked at 36.9% in April 2026 and was lowest at 28.7% in August 2026.
- 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, Happy Lemon’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States peaked at 14.1% in May 2026 and was lowest at 10.9% in February 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Feng Cha’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States peaked at 9.7% in September 2026 and was lowest at 8.1% in June 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sharetea’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States peaked at 10.9% in February 2026 and was lowest at 9% in March 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Tiger Sugar’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States peaked at 7.1% in July 2026 and was lowest at 6% in February 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kung Fu Tea rose from 2nd to 1st among bubble tea chains in the United States.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Gong cha fell from 1st to 2nd among bubble tea chains in the United States.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Tiger Sugar, Boba Guys, Presotea and The Alley held steady: their share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.
How did search popularity change for United States bubble tea chains in September 2026?
8 changes
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.
In September 2026, Feng Cha overtook Sharetea to rank 4th among bubble tea chains in the United States, with 9.7% of the searches.
In September 2026, Gong cha lost share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States, from 28.7% to 26.5%.
In September 2026, Happy Lemon lost share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States, from 12.9% to 11.8%.
In September 2026, Sharetea lost share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States, from 10.5% to 9.7%.
In September 2026, Tiger Sugar lost share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States, from 7.1% to 6.5%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Boba Guys in the United States fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 22.2K to 14.8K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for The Alley in the United States fell 32.8% over 12 measured months, from 4.8K to 3.2K in September 2026.
Compare popularity between leading brands
- Kung Fu Tea vs Gong cha: compare popularity
- Kung Fu Tea vs Happy Lemon: compare popularity
- Kung Fu Tea vs Feng Cha: compare popularity
- Kung Fu Tea vs Sharetea: compare popularity
- Gong cha vs Happy Lemon: compare popularity
- Gong cha vs Feng Cha: compare popularity
- Gong cha vs Sharetea: compare popularity
- Happy Lemon vs Feng Cha: compare popularity
- Happy Lemon vs Sharetea: compare popularity
- Feng Cha vs Sharetea: compare popularity
- Compare any of these brands
See your own brand in this picture
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to your campaigns, spend and outcomes, so you can see what moved your numbers, not just that they moved.