Shenzhen-based Molly Tea has also launched in the US, Thailand, Australia and Canada over the last 12 months as it seeks to open more than 300 stores globally by the end of 2025
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Queues outside Molly Tea’s store in London’s vibrant Chinatown | Photo credit: Molly Tea
Chinese tea chain Molly Tea has launched in the UK with a store in London’s vibrant Chinatown – the brand’s first site in Europe.
Founded in Shenzhen in 2021, Molly Tea specialises in floral milk teas, including jasmine, osmanthus and white champaca. The brand has developed a strong following among younger consumers by collaborating with local influencers and offering regular beverage promotions.
Most of its beverages in the UK are priced at £6 ($7.60) before discounts.
Molly – the phonetic translation of the jasmine flower Mò Lì – will trade alongside fellow Chinese tea chains Yunique Tea, Happy Lemon and Heytea in London’s Chinatown, as well as Taiwanese operators Chatime, Gong cha, Woo Tea and Cuppacha.
The tea chain is planning to open a second UK site in Birmingham before the end of February 2025.
Molly Tea currently operates approximately 850 stores in China and has been scaling its international presence over the last 12 months in a bid to reach 1,200 stores globally by the end of 2025.
The tea chain made its international debut in New York in April 2024 with a store in Flushing, Queens – home to the city’s largest Chinatown.
In September of the same year, Molly Tea opened a store in Bangkok, Thailand, before launching in Australia and Canada over the following two months with outlets in Sydney and Toronto respectively.
Molly Tea has raised $14.2m investment to date from backers including Alibaba Group and Happy Tiger Capital.