San Antonians, get your jumbo straws ready — the Taiwanese bubble tea chain Gong Cha is planning a Texas-sized expansion.
The boba tea chain already has five San Antonio locations, but the company just signed a franchise deal that will add 50 locations across the Lone Star State. The deal is with current Nothing Bundt Cakes franchisee, Bakers Acres & Cattle Co.
The company is based in Houston, but that won’t limit where these new shops are opening. Texas metros like San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Houston are all expected to get additional shops — though it is unknown how many will open in the Alamo City.
The company began in 2006 as a single boba tea shop in Taiwan, but has since grown to more than 2,000 locations worldwide. Its first U.S. location was launched in 2016. But the actual tea with boba, or tapioca pearls, dates back to Taiwan in the 1980s.
Gong Cha uses traditional approaches to the drink — like offering a base of a black, green or oolong tea — with modern sweetening and topping options. The chain is known for its signature milk foam that can be added to a drink.
