The CHAGEE Story: Taking Modern Chinese Tea from Kunming to the World Stage

CHAGEE Goes Public on NASDAQ, Brewing a New Era for Chinese Tea

CHAGEE, a leading modern Chinese tea brand, successfully debuted on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the "CHA." This landmark IPO marks a new chapter for China’s rapidly growing tea industry, signaling strong recognition from the international investment community.

The company's stock opened strong, closing its first day of trading at 32.44,a15.8632.44 a 15.86% increase that pushed its market valuation past 32.44, a 15.865.9 billion. More than just a financial milestone, CHAGEE’s public offering represents a fresh, global expression of Chinese tea culture.

From a Single Shop to a Global Powerhouse

CHAGEE's journey has been nothing short of remarkable. In 2017, founder Zhang Junjie opened the first location—a modest 30-square-meter shop in Kunming, China. In just seven years, the brand exploded from that single store to a global network of over 6,440 locations, becoming the first Chinese tea franchise to list on a major U.S. exchange.

From the beginning, CHAGEE set out to be different. Instead of focusing on traditional bubble tea or fruit-centric drinks, the brand committed to creating "Modern Oriental Tea." By blending ancient tea traditions with contemporary brewing techniques, stylish design, and immersive in-store experiences, CHAGEE made heritage tea culture exciting and accessible for a new generation.

The market has enthusiastically embraced this vision. According to its prospectus, in 2024 alone, CHAGEE recorded:

• A Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) of ¥29.5 billion, a 173% year-over-year increase.
• A net profit of ¥2.515 billion, reflecting an impressive net profit margin of 20.3%.

Building on this success, CHAGEE reported it had reached 1.7 billion registered members worldwide as of January 2025. This scale is supported by a robust supply chain that sourced 13,000 metric tons of premium tea leaves in 2024 from top-tier origins like Yunnan, Fujian, and Sri Lanka, creating over 60,000 jobs in the process.

"The rise of new tea brands has been a massive boost to China's tea industry," said Wang Qing, President of the China Tea Marketing Association. "Most importantly, it has successfully made tea popular among young people. It's thanks to innovative brands like these that nearly 45% of tea drinkers in 2022 were between 18 and 38, a demographic that was largely untapped before."

A Global Vision: Taking Tea Culture Worldwide

A simple tea leaf can be a powerful cultural ambassador. For CHAGEE, every cup of tea is an opportunity to share a piece of its heritage and build connections across the globe.

CHAGEE’s international expansion has already shown significant promise. In August 2024, the brand opened three stores in Singapore. The following month, it launched a new flagship model in Malaysia. Both debuts attracted long lines and immediate popularity, providing a blueprint for further growth. As of the end of 2024, CHAGEE operated 156 international locations and plans to add another 1,000-1,500 stores globally in 2025.

A clear, dual-focused model drives the brand's go-to-market strategy:

1. Cultural Leadership: Using its "CHA" identity to build a strong, recognizable brand rooted in authentic tea culture.
2. Commercial Excellence: Ensuring global quality control through standardized equipment and delivering strong financial results to prove its business value.

This powerful combination redefines how Chinese brands can succeed on the world stage. As CHAGEE steps onto the global capital market, it is helping to usher in a new age for China's entire tea industry.

When customers around the world enjoy a best-selling "Bo Ya Jue Xian," they are sipping more than just a perfectly brewed tea—they are experiencing a modern interpretation of a timeless culture. CHAGEE proves that tradition and innovation can blend seamlessly, creating a new story of modern tea for the world to enjoy.