Chagee’s dupe?!
Honestly, I must say that I succumbed to social media’s influence when it came to Molly Tea. It is quite a trend here in Melbourne and the queue at 1040pm on a weeknight spoke for itself. Granted, most were Chinese patronising the store, but I do see locals promoting this BBT brand on their socials as well.
💭 I know that most go for the drinks with foam topping but it was late and I didn’t want to risk something too sweet. So, I went for the Gardenia Oolong Milk Tea, which is also one of my go-to at Chagee. Just 20 minutes to their closing time, my first choice of Peach Tieguanyin was OOS along with their boba toppings. So, settling for the milk tea without any toppings (disappointing 😔), I received my order after about 7 minutes of wait. The first thing I noticed was the STRAW. They use that same iconic Chagee flat, tiny merged tubes straw! The ‘straw-poking’ experience was also the same, and on first taste, the milk tea tasted highly similar.
🛎️ Chagee isn’t here in Melbourne, so I’d say that Molly Tea really hits close. The option of ‘less ice’ still landed me with quite some cubes by the end of my drink, but I didn’t find 70% sugar as per their recommendation too sweet. If you’re in Australia or China (origin), do give the brand a try and make your own judgement! I would say it’s a 50-50 for me.
🤔Would go again?
Mightttttt go and try the foam series, or their Matcha profiles, but I guess I will not return for the milk teas alone any time soon.
If you're exploring the bubble tea scene in Melbourne or wondering if Chagee has truly arrived in Australia, Molly Tea is worth checking out as it fills that niche. From my experience, Molly Tea's drinks bring a familiar vibe to Chagee lovers, especially with their straw design that mimics Chagee's iconic merged tubes — it’s a small detail but quite memorable. While the Gardenia Oolong Milk Tea was my choice to avoid extra sweetness late at night, their menu offers other options like foam-topped drinks and various matcha profiles that seemed promising. I’d recommend trying the foam series if you’re curious about something richer or want to compare textures. One thing to note is the sugar and ice customization—70% sugar felt just right without being overpowering, but even with 'less ice,' there was still a decent amount of ice cubes left, which some might find a bit chilly as you finish the drink. For those who follow the latest updates on Chagee’s presence in Australia, as of now, there isn’t an official outlet in Melbourne yet, so Molly Tea serves as a close sibling brand available in Australia, China, and the USA. It's fascinating to see this expansion and the way regional preferences influence choices in bubble tea. If you are in Melbourne or nearby and seeking authentic-sounding alternatives, Molly Tea's offerings deserve a try — just keep an eye on their menu updates and specials, as they seem to innovate regularly. Also, sharing your experience on social platforms helps the community discover which spots hit the mark or miss it, especially among local and international BBT fans.
