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I’ve often heard people rave about Chagee on social media, and let’s be real—their stunning printed cup that everyone flaunts online? Totally piqued my curiosity. I kept seeing people share their “Chagee moment” on Instagram, proudly holding their drinks like it was the holy grail of milk tea. So obviously, I had to know: Is it really that good?

I remember this one time, after lunch, my good friend and I decided to give it a try. We walked over to the outlet, only to be told we had to wait 40 minutes to get our drinks because the line for the orders was THAT long. And I thought to myself, “Wow, this place must be amazing.” But let’s be honest, we weren’t about to wait that long just for a cup of tea. So we left.

Fast forward to recently, my partner and I agreed to try something new. Normally, we’d stick to our usual—my mocha and his latte—but this time, we decided to finally see what the hype was all about. Chagee, it was.

So, What Is Chagee?

Chagee (pronounced cha‑jee) is a premium tea chain that began in Yunnan, China, with its first store opening on November 17, 2017 . The brand’s name, “CHAGEE,” combines “Cha” (meaning tea in Chinese) and “Gee” (a term of endearment), reflecting their focus on Chinese tea culture while bringing it into the modern day.

Unlike your typical bubble tea shop, Chagee offers a more elevated experience. Their menu includes fresh milk teas, pure teas, and fruit teas, all crafted with whole tea leaves and real dairy—no artificial powders or syrups here. It’s all about respecting the roots of tea while adding a modern, health-conscious spin.

They’ve built their brand on a few solid principles:

• Modernizing tea culture
• Prioritizing quality ingredients
• Embracing innovation
• Offering health-conscious choices
• Fostering cultural connection

Their packaging reflects the same philosophy, often blending elements of tradition and artistry into a modern aesthetic that feels both fancy and Insta-ready. Chagee has gained popularity fast, especially among young adults who prefer a more subtle tea flavor. They don’t do the typical toppings like pearls or pudding—this is more tea-first, trend-second.

The Ambience: IOI City Mall Outlet

We visited the IOI City Mall outlet. The setup was quite efficient—there was a clear ordering counter, a separate pickup counter, and all the Chagee paper bags neatly arranged on the side. The space was buzzing. People were either waiting for their number to pop up on the screen or sitting at the limited tables, sipping tea with friends.

Most people were doing takeaways, but the energy was very much “modern tea bar”. The staff were fast, focused, and clearly used to the rush.

What We Ordered

Since it was our first time, we stood there staring at the menu like clueless tourists until we gave in and asked the staff, “What’s the bestseller?”

She kindly pointed to a few top picks, and we ended up with:

• Oolong Milk Tea (for me)

• Jasmine Milk Tea (for him)

I was so excited to finally hold that iconic cup and take the classic Chagee photo like everyone else online. Honestly? It was really cute. Even the paper bag they handed us was adorable. Inside, there was a shiny aluminum lining to keep the drink temperature intact, and the paper bag had a proper lid that made it look fancy. A+ for packaging.

So, what did we really think?

Hmmm…where do I begin?

Let’s just say the excitement quickly fizzled out. Meh. 😬

When I took my first sip, I had to pause. Then came the second sip. I even shook the cup a bit, thinking maybe the drink needed a little mix-up. By the third sip, it hit me—that was the taste. That’s it?

My partner felt the same way. We looked at each other like, “Wait, is it just us?”

We both went with standard sugar level, but the flavors were ridiculously light. Like, whisper-of-a-flavor light. The tea taste was barely there. The milk? Not creamy. Not rich. Just… thin and underwhelming.

We eventually finished our drinks, but it definitely took effort. It’s not that it was bad—just extremely mild. Maybe that’s the point? Maybe Chagee caters to people who love subtlety. Like, very subtle.

Maybe It’s Not for Us… and That’s Okay

We’re not here to bash it—it’s just not for us. In fact, I recently had a chat with a colleague about it, and she said the same thing:
“I didn’t like it. It doesn’t taste like tea at all and it has this weird fragrance.”

I felt so validated. Like, OMG, same.

Maybe we ordered the wrong drinks? I don’t know. We picked the bestsellers, though. There were a few fruity tea options on the menu that looked interesting, but I doubt we’ll go back just to try them.

Chagee is clearly for a certain kind of crowd—those who enjoy light, less sweet, more delicate tea flavors. And hey, that’s totally fine. Taste is subjective.

Final Thoughts

Well, at least I finally got to check “Try Chagee” off my foodie bucket list—and yes, I do have the photo of me holding the cup like a proud tea explorer. So even if the drink didn’t blow my taste buds away, I still got my “Hey look, I had Chagee too!” moment for the ‘Gram. Mission kinda-sorta accomplished. 😂

Honestly though, just because it wasn’t our cup of tea, doesn’t mean it won’t be yours. Everyone’s taste is different—and that’s the fun part of trying new things, right?

So if you’re curious, I say go for it! Order a cup, snap a photo (because let’s face it, the cup alone is half the experience), and see where you stand in the Great Chagee Debate. You might just love it or at the very least, you’ll have a cute picture to post and a new tea tale to tell.

X, Auri. 

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