About Us
In 1996, a man named Wu opened a premium tea shop in Taiwan.
Wu worked hard to develop his tea blends, testing everything countless times to perfect his recipes and ensure he could guarantee the quality. In 2006, Wu established Gong cha in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The new tea brand inherited the quality and commitment of the original shop, but with the new commitment to serve tea fit for a king, literally — Gong cha refers to the act of offering tea to the emperor as a form of tribute in ancient China. The brand name represents Wu’s philosophy that tea served at Gong cha will be made with the highest craftsmanship and the knowledge of a tea master.
Gong cha made its first foray overseas in 2009 when it expanded to Hong Kong. The popularity continued to grow, and the brand quickly spread around Asia, starting with the Philippines.
In 2011, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Berry fell in love with the brand after visiting a store in Singapore. They soon brought Gong cha to the Korean market. Gong cha spread from a single store in Hongdae to over 600 locations currently.
From there, Gong cha’s global expansion spread outside of Asia. Branches in Australia, the United States, Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom opened over the following years, as well as rapidly expanding operations in Japan. Gong cha opened its global headquarters in London in 2020, laying the groundwork for establishing an active, central globalization strategy. Gong cha now operates 1,800 stores around the world.
Gong cha Taiwan still adheres to that commitment to taste and quality that Wu established in his tea shop nearly 30 years ago, carrying that vision through to the supervision and support of all current production and management of raw materials and techniques. Gong cha Korea, now home to the brand’s largest market, continues to develop and innovate at the cutting edge of the brand’s franchise system and globalization strategy.
At the heart of the entire business, from Taiwan – Seoul – Asia – the Americas – Europe – and more, Gong cha loose-leaf tea is always steeped with exacting standards and served with only the best pearls and toppings.
This commitment to excellence ensures that Gong cha is always Brewing happiness.