Strawberry season once again — and as expected, strawberry has emerged as the go‑to “traffic driver” for brands across the market.
Naisnow Tea”RBenihoppe strawberry Jasmine Tea” has topped in-store sales charts, while ChaPanda’s “Strawberry Milk Tea” series sold nearly 400,000 cups on its launch day. HEYTEA also introduced “RBenihoppe Strawberry Oolong Tea.” Incomplete statistics show that over the past month, 27 brands have collectively launched 71 strawberry-based beverages.
Naisnow Tea
RBenihoppe strawberry Jasmine Tea
This product blends strawberry-flavored fromage frais, jasmine tea, milk, and Dandong RBenihoppe strawberries. The layered flavors of fruit, milk, and tea create a smooth, creamy texture, earning it the nickname “a drinkable strawberry shortcake” from consumers.
HEYTEA
RBenihoppe strawberry OolongTea
Featuring Qilan tea infused with fresh strawberries and chia jam, topped with a cloud-like cream, fans are raving, “A must-try for strawberry lovers!
ChaPanda
Strawberry pairs up with cherry in new releases like “Lucky Red Strawberry Cherry” and “Light Red Cherry Cup,” radiating festive “red luck” vibes. Many consumers seek auspiciousness with comments like, “Start the New Year with a cup for continuous good luck!” Previously, ChaPanda also launched three othre “strawberry cake milk tea” variations: Strawberry mousse pudding, Strawberry-filled mochi, and Strawberry lava half-baked cheesecake.
A total of 27 brands, including ChaPanda, Shuyi Grass Jelly Tea, MOLLYTEA, No YEYE No Tea, ChaHuaNong, A Yogurt Cow, and Mo Yogurt, have launched 71 new strawberry products, spanning milk tea, yogurt, and fruit tea categories. It’s fair to say that strawberry has become the undisputed “top-tier fruit” in the current beverage landscape. As a perennial favorite in the bubble tea market, strawberry offers a balanced sweet-tart flavor and distinct aroma, appealing to a broad consumer base. Especially during the year-end and New Year period, its red color naturally aligns with festive celebrations. Coupled with playful puns like “heading toward happiness,” “full of bliss,” and “New Year, no worries,” it serves as the perfect “mood-setter” to drive consumer excitement.
Observing the best-selling strawberry beverages, “dessert-inspired transformation” stands out as a key trend. Brands are upgrading simple fruit teas or milk teas into “drinkable desserts.” Specifically:
1.Creating “Liquid Cakes”: Using abundant toppings to enhance satisfaction.
Brands are focusing on “richer ingredients and stronger flavors.” Elements like rice mochi, half-baked cheesecake, pudding, and brûlée are widely incorporated into strawberry drinks, offering the multi-layered richness of desserts.
For example, ChaPanda’s strawberry lava half-baked cheesecake is as creamy as ice cream, its strawberry-filled mochi is soft and stretchy, and its strawberry mousse pudding is smooth and bouncy. As netizens put it, “It’s like putting dessert straight into a cup.”
2.Inspiration from Dessert Presentation: High visual appeal drives organic sharing.
Beyond great taste, “looking good” has become another major competitive edge. This year’s strawberry products place extra emphasis on “visual expression.”
HEYTEA’s “Strawberry Jasmine Tea,” topped with strawberry cheese cloud cream and strawberry freeze-dried powder, plus an adorable cat-shaped design, has captured the hearts of many.
3.Redefining drink development: drawing inspiration from craft mixology
With the rise of signature, strawberry’s sweetness is being reimagined through more creative flavor combinations.
LINLEE takes an unconventional approach by pairing strawberry with black truffle cheese-flavored milk foam, creating a distinctive blend of savory cheese and unique truffle aroma. More Yogurt experiments with niche ingredients, mixing strawberry with pistachio paste and turmeric powder for a completely novel taste experience.
It’s evident that high visual appeal and rich texture are what consumers currently expect from a strawberry beverage.