Tea is at the heart of Molan Tea's brand. The chain focuses on premium Chinese oolong and black teas, promoting a lighter, lower-calorie style that emphasises natural tea flavours, premium fresh milk and a less-sweet profile increasingly favoured by consumers seeking more balanced tea beverages.
(Molan tea sold at its London shop, source: Rednote @就爱吃饱饱 )
Molan Tea also reflects China's broader Guochao (China Chic) movement, in which domestic brands reinterpret traditional Chinese culture through contemporary products, retail spaces and visual identity. Its moss-green stores, timber finishes, minimalist packaging and tea cups present a modern expression of Chinese aesthetics ("新中式美学") that has resonated strongly with younger consumers while giving the brand a distinctive identity in an increasingly competitive market.
Founded in Nanjing in late 2022, Molan Tea has expanded to more than 800 stores across China as recently as June 2026, underscoring its rapid expansion. Its first UK store in Elephant and Castle, London, reportedly sold more than 20,000 cups in its first month, generating more than RMB 1.1 million (approximately A$230,000) in revenue.
Launch Story can revealt that the Australian rollout begins with a store on Dixon Street in Sydney's Chinatown precinct and another at Queen Street Village in Southport on the Gold Coast. The company has also indicated plans to expand into Melbourne in the first quarter of 2027, followed by Brisbane later in the year.
The expansion comes as Australia's premium tea market continues to grow. According to Grand View Research, Australia's bubble tea market was valued at approximately A$98 million in 2024 and is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2% through 2030, driven by increasing demand for premium tea beverages and healthier drink options.
Molan Tea's arrival adds to a growing list of Chinese premium tea brands expanding into Australia, including CHAGEE (霸王茶姬), HEYTEA (喜茶), CHAPANDA (茶百道) and Molly Tea (茉莉奶白), alongside established bubble tea chains such as Chatime, Gong Cha, Sharetea and CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice.
As LaunchStory previously reported, LULI Tea, which is launching in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, is another "China Chic" brand expanding overseas.