Quick Answer
Chun Shui Tang is a cultural tea house founded on May 20, 1983 in Taichung, Taiwan, growing out of the Yangxian Tea Shop; its founder is Liu Han-chieh. Chun Shui Tang says that in March 1987, employee Lin Hsiu-hui spontaneously added tapioca balls to a tea drink and created bubble tea, so it’s often called one of the birthplaces of bubble tea. Tainan’s Hanlin Tea House makes a similar claim, and the two went to court over it for years; in 2019 the court found that anyone can make bubble tea, it isn’t patented, and there was no need to rule on who invented it. Chun Shui Tang opened its first overseas store in Daikanyama, Tokyo in 2013 and entered Hong Kong in 2018.
What Is Chun Shui Tang?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | May 20, 1983, Taichung |
| Predecessor | Yangxian Tea Shop |
| Founder | Liu Han-chieh |
| Positioning | Cultural tea house serving tea drinks and food |
| Overseas | Japan (since 2013), Hong Kong (since 2018) |
Chun Shui Tang Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1983 | Yangxian Tea Shop founded in Taichung |
| 1987 | Chun Shui Tang says Lin Hsiu-hui created bubble tea in March |
| 2013 | First overseas store opens in Daikanyama, Tokyo |
| 2018 | Opens at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station |
| 2019 | Court says there’s no need to rule on who invented bubble tea |
For the full story of bubble tea’s origins, see The Origin of Bubble Tea in Taiwan.
What Sets Chun Shui Tang Apart
- Tea house experience: run as a sit-down cultural tea house, unlike takeaway-focused bubble tea shops.
- Taiwanese tea culture: part of the evolution of Taiwanese tea drinks from foam black tea to bubble tea; see What Is Taiwanese Foam Black Tea?
3 Lessons for Bubble Tea Businesses
- A brand story is an asset: the “birthplace of bubble tea” story makes the brand easy to remember internationally.
- Dine-in and takeaway are different models: a tea house needs seating, food and service, with a different cost structure from a takeaway shop; see How to Calculate Bubble Tea Shop Profit Margins.
- Japan values quality and experience: Chun Shui Tang chose Tokyo as its first overseas location; see Bubble Tea in Japan.
How Tang Sugar Helps Bubble Tea Brands
Tang Sugar supplies bubble tea ingredients including teas, tapioca pearls, syrups and powders, with a single quote for your whole menu and consolidated container shipping, and offers tea shop opening services. Contact us.
Note: This article summarizes public information about the brand’s development. Tang Sugar has no partnership or affiliation with the brands mentioned; brand names and trademarks belong to their respective owners.
Products in this article
All 87 Bubble Tea & Boba Ingredients →
FAQ
Where is Chun Shui Tang from?
Chun Shui Tang is a Taiwanese brand founded in 1983 in Taichung by Liu Han-chieh.
Did Chun Shui Tang invent bubble tea?
Chun Shui Tang says employee Lin Hsiu-hui created bubble tea in March 1987; Tainan’s Hanlin Tea House makes a similar claim. In 2019 a court found bubble tea isn’t patented and there was no need to rule on who invented it.
What was Chun Shui Tang before?
It grew out of the Yangxian Tea Shop, founded in 1983.
Does Chun Shui Tang have stores outside Taiwan?
Yes. It opened its first overseas store in Daikanyama, Tokyo in 2013 and entered Hong Kong in 2018.
Who founded Chun Shui Tang?
Liu Han-chieh, who founded Chun Shui Tang in Taichung in 1983, growing out of the Yangxian Tea Shop.
Further Reading
- The Hanlin Tea House Brand Story
- The Origin of Bubble Tea in Taiwan
- What Is Taiwanese Foam Black Tea?
- Where Is Mixue From?
- Where Is CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice From?
- Where Is 50 Lan From?
- Is Chatime Taiwanese?
Sources
- Wikipedia: Chun Shui Tang
- CTWANT: Hanlin Tea House founder dies suddenly; the bubble tea origin dispute fades (in Chinese)
