Cuppa Tea is a popular bubble tea store tucked away in Flushing's Tangram Complex serving pineapple butter buns, egg waffles, curry fish balls, and their famous Hong Kong-style milk tea. They have over 800 locations worldwide, and its Flushing location opened in July 2021.

Julie Li is the master franchisor for Cuppa Tea's first US locations. Half of her family is from Mainland China, and the other half is from Hong Kong and Malaysia. While many people know about Taiwanese-style milk tea, she opened Cuppa Tea to introduce HK-style milk tea to the public.

Their most popular drink is the signature HK-style milk tea, served hot or cold. It even comes in a cute retro glass bottle that can be taken home as a souvenir! The teas are brewed with premium tea leaves and undergo a traditional tea-pulling process. It can take over an hour just to make one pot of tea. Then, it goes through a long cooling process as they do not add ice to their teas. The resulting milk tea is strong, bold, and silky smooth!

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Julie and her team faced many challenges. Cuppa Tea didn't qualify for the PPP loan or other federal aid as it was open for under two years. In addition, the team faced labor shortages, supply chain issues, and increased freight and shipping costs. Despite the challenges, they have retained many loyal customers willing to wait in long lines just for an authentic taste of Hong Kong.

Make sure to stop by for a Cuppa Tea next time you're in Flushing!

📍 Cuppa Tea
37-12 Prince Street, Queens, NY 11354