Quick Answer
Hanlin Tea House is a tea house brand founded in 1986 by Tu Tsung-ho in Tainan, Taiwan. The founder said he saw a vendor at Tainan’s Yamuliao Market making white tapioca balls by traditional methods, bought some, cooked them and added them to milk tea, naming it “pearl milk tea” because the translucent balls looked like pearls; brown sugar was later added, turning the pearls today’s black color. Hanlin Tea House and Taichung’s Chun Shui Tang both claim to have invented bubble tea and went to court for years; in 2019 the court found that bubble tea isn’t patented and there was no need to rule on who invented it. Founder Tu Tsung-ho died in June 2022. On January 6, 2025, Chatime’s parent company La Kaffa International announced it would acquire 100% of Hanlin Tea House’s parent company for NT$272 million; Hanlin then had nearly 40 stores in Taiwan.
What Is Hanlin Tea House?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986, Tainan |
| Founder | Tu Tsung-ho |
| Stores | Nearly 40 in Taiwan (at the 2025 acquisition) |
| Status | A La Kaffa International brand since 2025 |
Hanlin Tea House Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1986 | Tu Tsung-ho founds Hanlin Tea House in Tainan |
| 2019 | Court says there’s no need to rule on who invented bubble tea |
| 2022 | Founder Tu Tsung-ho dies |
| 2025 | La Kaffa International acquires 100% of the parent company for NT$272 million |
White Tapioca Balls and Bubble Tea
In Hanlin Tea House’s account, the first pearls were white tapioca balls, which only turned black once brown sugar was added. Today’s white pearls and brown sugar pearls in bubble tea shops both follow from this; see Types of Tapioca Pearls and What Is Brown Sugar Syrup?
3 Lessons for Bubble Tea Businesses
- Local ingredients can become a signature: tapioca balls from a traditional market became the basis of a drink now popular worldwide; see How Tapioca Pearls Are Made.
- Heritage brands have acquisition value: La Kaffa’s 2025 purchase of Hanlin shows that brands with history and a story are worth acquiring.
- You can’t own an invention like this: the court found bubble tea isn’t patented, so brands are better off investing in quality and experience.
How Tang Sugar Helps Bubble Tea Brands
Tang Sugar supplies large, white and golden tapioca pearls, plus teas, creamers and syrups, with a single quote for your whole menu and consolidated container shipping. We also offer product customization services and tea shop opening services. Contact us or request samples.
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
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FAQ
Where is Hanlin Tea House from?
Hanlin Tea House is a Taiwanese brand founded in 1986 by Tu Tsung-ho in Tainan.
Did Hanlin Tea House invent bubble tea?
Hanlin Tea House says its founder invented it in 1986 by adding white tapioca balls to milk tea; Taichung’s Chun Shui Tang 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.
Who owns Hanlin Tea House now?
In January 2025, La Kaffa International announced it would acquire 100% of Hanlin Tea House’s parent company for NT$272 million.
Why were the first tapioca pearls white?
According to Hanlin Tea House, it first used white tapioca balls made by traditional methods; they turned black later when brown sugar was added.
Who founded Hanlin Tea House?
Tu Tsung-ho, who founded Hanlin Tea House in Tainan in 1986 and died in June 2022.
Further Reading
- The Chun Shui Tang Brand Story
- The Chatime Brand Story
- The Origin of Bubble Tea in Taiwan
- The Ching Shin Fu Chuan Brand Story
- The Milksha Brand Story
- Where Is Tiger Sugar From?
- Is THE ALLEY Taiwanese?
Sources
- Business Next (2025): Chatime’s parent acquires Hanlin Tea House for NT$272 million (in Chinese)
- CTWANT: Hanlin Tea House founder dies suddenly; the bubble tea origin dispute fades (in Chinese)
- Wikipedia: Hanlin Tea House (in Chinese)
