Top 10 Milk Tea Franchises in the Philippines: Complete Guide
The milk tea industry in the Philippines continues to be one of the most dynamic sectors in the food and beverage landscape. From high-end international global brands to affordable homegrown micro-franchises, there are options tailored to varying investment capacities and business goals.
Executive Summary & Comparison Table
RankFranchise BrandEstimated Franchise FeeEstimated Total InvestmentTarget Location / Best Suited For 1Chatime₱300k – ₱500k₱2.5M – ₱7.0M+Prime Malls, BPO Towers & High-Traffic Hubs 2Gong ChaOn Request₱3.0M – ₱6.0MUrban Malls & High-End Commercial Outlets 3Sharetea~₱500,000₱3.5M – ₱4.0MShopping Malls & Strip Malls 4Moonleaf Tea Shop~₱300,000₱788,000 – ₱2.5MUniversities, Residential Areas & High Streets 5Kurimi Milk Tea Bar~₱175,000₱500,000 – ₱1.3MInstagrammable Cafes & Youth-Oriented Hubs 6Frotea~₱120,000₱350,000 – ₱600,000Provincial Hubs & Community Kiosks 7Cha Thai (Farron)~₱56,000Starts at ₱299,000Low-Capital Kiosks, Stations & Terminals 8Sugar Panda~₱180,000Starts at ₱600,000High-Volume Takeaway Spots 9Beanleaf Coffee & TeaIncluded in Package₱1.88M – ₱3.68MFull-Scale Bistro / Hybrid Cafe Concepts 10Icelavie~₱150,000₱415,000 – ₱750,000Takeaway Food Courts & High Foot-Traffic Streets
Detailed Brand Profiles
1. Chatime
- Franchise Fee: ₱300,000 (Metro Manila) / ₱500,000 (Provincial)
- Total Investment: ₱2.5 Million – ₱7.0 Million+
- Overview: A household brand in the country, Chatime offers robust corporate backing, a secure supply chain, and high brand recall. Best for franchisees with prime commercial space in high-density areas.
2. Gong Cha
- Franchise Fee: Direct quotation upon application
- Total Investment: ₱3.0 Million – ₱6.0 Million
- Overview: Recognized worldwide for its signature cheese foam toppings and freshly brewed tea, Gong Cha appeals to tea purists and premium mallgoers.
3. Sharetea
- Franchise Fee: ~₱500,000
- Total Investment: ₱3.5 Million – ₱4.0 Million
- Overview: Operating since 1992, Sharetea brings 30+ years of Taiwanese brewing expertise and strong international marketing support.
4. Moonleaf Tea Shop
- Franchise Fee: ~₱300,000
- Total Investment: ₱788,000 – ₱2.5 Million
- Overview: A pioneer homegrown brand with over a decade in the market. Moonleaf is known for its community-centric vibe and accessible setup formats.
5. Kurimi Milk Tea Bar
- Franchise Fee: ~₱175,000
- Total Investment: ₱500,000 – ₱1.3 Million
- Overview: Famous for its eye-catching 2D black-and-white comic book visual aesthetic, Kurimi delivers viral social media appeal alongside rich Japanese-inspired flavor lineups.
6. Frotea
- Franchise Fee: ~₱120,000
- Total Investment: ₱350,000 – ₱600,000
- Overview: Originating in Palawan, Frotea combines milk tea with desserts and snacks. It offers an attractive, low-cost entry point for suburban and provincial markets.
7. Cha Thai (by Farron Café)
- Franchise Fee: ~₱56,000
- Total Investment: Starts around ₱299,000
- Overview: Focusing on authentic Thai milk tea blends, Cha Thai allows franchisees to leverage the operational support of the Farron Café corporate group.
8. Sugar Panda
- Franchise Fee: ~₱180,000
- Total Investment: Starts around ₱600,000
- Overview: A standout brand from Davao that expanded rapidly due to its signature brown sugar boba and reusable panda-themed takeaway cups.
9. Beanleaf Coffee and Tea
- Franchise Fee: Included in total package
- Total Investment: ₱1.88 Million – ₱3.68 Million
- Overview: Combines both milk tea and espresso coffee alongside food items, allowing franchisees to capture multiple customer segments and dining occasions.
10. Icelavie
- Franchise Fee: ~₱150,000
- Total Investment: ₱415,000 – ₱750,000
- Overview: Famous for its signature 32oz jumbo drinks and thermal takeaway bags, catering to budget-conscious consumers seeking generous portions.
Important Industry Note:
Popular brands such as CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice, Macao Imperial Tea, and Tiger Sugar operate under exclusive master franchise agreements in the Philippines and do not typically offer individual sub-franchises to individual franchisees.