The Original Store of Chun Shui Tang
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The Original Store of Chun Shui Tang

4.6
·491k reviews·,

The original birthplace of bubble tea, offering a taste of history alongside delicious Taiwanese cuisine in a charming teahouse setting.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

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The Original Store of Chun Shui Tang

The Original Store of Chun Shui Tang

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

The original birthplace of bubble tea, offering a taste of history alongside delicious Taiwanese cuisine in a charming teahouse setting.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"Visit the original Chun Shui Tang for the authentic bubble tea experience and a delightful taste of Taiwanese culinary history."

TIP

Expect a wait

Visit during off-peak hours or be prepared for a queue, especially at the original store.

Don't skip the food!

While famous for bubble tea, their Taiwanese dishes like noodles and braised items are highly recommended.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Open·Closes 10PM

Cuisine

Taiwanese

Price

Mid-range

Phone

+886 4 2229 7991

Address

No. 30號, Siwei St, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Birthplace of Bubble Tea

Birthplace of Bubble Tea

Experience the iconic beverage that took the world by storm at its original birthplace.

TikToks ultimate guide to... TaichungThe Best Cheap And Free Things To See And Do In Taichung+12
Authentic Taiwanese Cuisine

Authentic Taiwanese Cuisine

Savor traditional Taiwanese dishes like savory braised pork rice and flavorful beef noodle soup.

Google Review
Historic Teahouse Ambiance

Historic Teahouse Ambiance

Immerse yourself in a blend of traditional teahouse charm and a lively, modern dining atmosphere.

TikTokMy Taiwan Guide: Things to do in Taichung and Sun Moon LakeGoogle Review
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

ORIGINAL BOBA TEA SHOP TAICHUNG TAIWAN 🇹🇼🧋 Visiting the ORIGINAL boba tea shop in Taichung Taiwan is a must especially if you’re a boba lover, Chun Shui Tang is the store that originally put the now iconic drink on their menu and all I will say is that once you’ve tasted this you’ll understand why somethings are always imitated but never duplicated Check it - Chun Shui Tang Original Store (春水堂 四維...
@phatlifeproject
95 likes • 3.5K views

Expect a wait

Visit during off-peak hours or be prepared for a queue, especially at the original store.

Don't skip the food!

While famous for bubble tea, their Taiwanese dishes like noodles and braised items are highly recommended.

📍chun shui tang 春水堂 (multiple locations throughout taiwan but original store is in taichung 台中) #taiwan #chunshuitang #yum #milktea #bbt #boba #drink #taichung #bubbletea #foodie
@foodwith_serena
871 likes • 20.8K views
📍 Chun shui tang Even though they’re known for bubble tea, don’t sleep on their food #taiwan #taiwanesefood #bubbletea #chunshuitang #foodtok
@_lovewinnie
53 likes • 1.3K views

Trivia on the right side

Sit on the right side of the restaurant for fun bubble tea trivia while you dine.

Consider a set meal

A set meal can offer a satisfying combination of dishes and drinks for a complete experience.

Do you know the true original store of boba tea in Taiwan? #bobatea #taiwanmilktea #taichung_taiwan #taichung #chunshuitang #taiwan #travel #learnontiktok #dulich #studyabroadtaiwan
@holymjnghan
32 likes • 4.7K views

Tips

from all over the internet

Expect a wait

Visit during off-peak hours or be prepared for a queue, especially at the original store.

Don't skip the food!

While famous for bubble tea, their Taiwanese dishes like noodles and braised items are highly recommended.

Trivia on the right side

Sit on the right side of the restaurant for fun bubble tea trivia while you dine.

Consider a set meal

A set meal can offer a satisfying combination of dishes and drinks for a complete experience.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Chun Shui Tang Original Store is widely celebrated as the birthplace of bubble tea, drawing visitors for its iconic beverage and authentic Taiwanese cuisine. While many praise the signature bubble tea and dishes like beef noodle soup and dan dan noodles, some find the bubble tea pricey and less flavorful than other options. The historical ambiance is a significant draw, though waits can be long.

"Chun Shui Tang, the originator of Bubble Tea. Therefore, Bubble Tea (珍珠奶茶) is the top recommendation and a must-try!

Beyond their iconic drink, Chun Shui Tang offers various popular foods and beverages. For drinks, consider other high-quality teas (hot or iced): Oolong, Jasmine, Green, or the unique Pearl Oolong Tea Latte. Refreshing options include teas with honey, lemon, or fruit flavors.

For food (typically light meals or snacks perfect with tea), popular choices include Kung Fu Noodles (savory minced meat noodles), Lu Wei (braised dishes like soy eggs and tofu, great for sharing), Popcorn Chicken (crispy Taiwanese fried chicken), and possibly Dumplings (boiled or steamed).

Consider your hunger level: Kung Fu Noodles or Lu Wei are more filling, while Popcorn Chicken or Dumplings are lighter."

The Explorers

"Came here around 6pm and had a queue of around 15 minutes wait time. The restaurant itself is quite tidy and if you happen to sit next to the right side of the restaurant. There is some bubble tea trivia which is quite fun to read.
As for food, we ordered various dish, all came out quite good.
I really like the sesame dandan noodles. Veges and the fried chicken also pretty good. The main star of course is the bubble tea and it has really good flavour and the boba is small size which apparently they kept to the original recipe. It doesnt get stuck in the straw at all. Overall experience very good, we will definitely be back if not this branch, then some other branch."

Wilson Shum

"This is the original bubble tea shop — the very first of its kind, guaranteed to be delicious! If you’re visiting, be sure to try their signature bubble milk tea — it’s a must-order item.

Be sure to allow some extra time when you visit, as there’s usually a line — it’s that popular! You can easily find the way by searching the shop name on Google Maps for directions."

Kawvarin Silapat

What People Like

Original bubble tea experience
Authentic Taiwanese dishes
Historic teahouse atmosphere

What People Dislike

Bubble tea can be expensive
Long wait times

Frequently Asked Questions

Chun Shui Tang claims to be the originator of bubble tea, having invented the drink in 1987.

TikToks ultimate guide to... TaichungThe Best Cheap And Free Things To See And Do In Taichung+5

The most popular item is undoubtedly their original bubble tea. Other highly recommended dishes include Kung Fu Noodles and braised items.

TikTokGoogle Review

The original store is very popular, so expect a wait of around 15 minutes during peak times.

Google Review+1

Chun Shui Tang offers a variety of Taiwanese dishes, including noodles, braised items, popcorn chicken, and dim sum.

TikTokGoogle Review

Many find the bubble tea here to have a more balanced sweetness and authentic flavor, with smaller tapioca pearls, distinct from many modern interpretations.

Google Review+1

Yes, if you sit on the right side of the restaurant, you can enjoy fun bubble tea trivia while you dine.

Google Review

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Taiwanese tea house Chun Shui Tang invented the pearl milk tea – the perfect combination of milk tea and chewy tapioca balls – in 1987. Today, this addictive drink is still made with natural cane sugar, pure tea and marginally smaller (but smoother) tapioca balls that are produced with a low-temperature process (constantly kept chilled to retain the perfect texture) at Chun Shui Tang.

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Taichung is the home of pearl milk tea and it’s said that Chun Shui Tang is where it all began. This traditional teahouse serves up a wonderful variety of teas that you can sit down to drink or have to go. Most people go for the original pearl milk tea, although there are also many other options to choose from.

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Many people thought it was just a fad, and it places like Ireland that’s exactly what it was, with a plethora of Bubble Tea shops opening and then closing in less than 24 months. In Taiwan, however, Bubble Tea remains one of the most popular and most loved drinks in the country, and a lot of that is due to the fact that Bubble Tea was actually founded here,invented by Chun Shui Tang in Taichung City in the 1980’s. If you’re a big bubble tea fan then visiting the shop where it all started is a must and definitely one of the most unique things to do in Taichung City.

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It seems like it might be, so from the NWSAC, continue north to Chun Shui Tang, which lays claim to being the originator of Bubble Tea in Taiwan. They serve good food, and of course, excellent beverages (including Bubble Tea, of which they are the O.G.). After a snack break, a quick walk will bring you to the extremely pleasant Taichung Literature Museum, six traditional Japanese-style buildings surrounding a massive century-old Banyan tree, a perfect spot for contemplation of matters literary, spiritual, or anything else.

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Reputedly the original creator of Taiwanese bubble tea, Chun Shui Tang has gone on to big things with stores and tea-shops all over Taiwan plus branches overseas like in Hong Kong and Japan. However it all started in 1983 with this Taichung Chun Shui Tang Original Store. We popped into the Chun Shui Tang original store in Taichung for some lunch one weekday to try their bubble tea – the upstairs restaurant was very busy but they found space for us in the downstairs restaurant.

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As bubble tea originated in Taiwan, it comes as no surprise that some of the world’s best stores serving the sweet drink filled with tapioca pearls are found in and around Taichung. But the undisputed origin and nucleus of bubble tea cultures – at least for most – is Chun Shui Tang, a store that is said to be the home of the original bubble tea. Chun Shui Tang serves the drink in its purest form, adding only tea, milk, sugar, and tapioca, along with desired flavoring.

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Bubble tea lovers will want to check out Chun Shui Tang, a Taichung tea shop that claims to be THE shop that invented bubble tea. They have many branches across Taiwan but originated here in Taichung, so I made my way to the original shop in Taichung’s West District to try it out for myself. The interior has quite a traditional tea house feel, and the pearl milk tea is served in an absolutely massive glass which was practically a meal in itself.

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It is true that Pearl Milk Tea is all over Taiwan, in every city, whether it’s a small town or a big city. But if you’re in Taichung, stop by Chun Shui Tang, the birthplace of Pearl Milk Tea, the drink which eventually spread around the whole world. Although Chun Shui Tang has about 40 outlets all over Taiwan, it is certainly great to stop by the original location.The first location of Chun Shui Tang in Siwei Street opened in 1983.

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Already in Tainan, we visited the HanLin Tea Room, one of the shops who claims the origin of pearl milk tea. Around the same time, a shop in Taichung called Chun Shui Tang happened to claim exactly the same thing, leaving a rivalry between the two shops as two who can lay claim to such a monumental time in history. While both now boast nation-wide drink chains, Chun Shui Tang is undoubtedly more famous, but who could even say why?

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The birthplace of bubble tea aka pearls aka tapioca balls, if you are a fan of it, how will you not go here?. Lin Xiuhui is the mother of this creation which quickly became a rage and spread like wildfire all over the world. We went to the one in Chaoma 3rd street and I expected a small place where they will still have the original set up etc while we found a fancy cafe serving other drinks and food too.

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Everywhere you turn in Taichung… and probably Taiwan for that matter, you’ll find bubble tea and though there has always been some speculation about the origins of the tea, there is “one shop and one woman who are generally accepted as being true”. If you want to try the original bubble tea, then you need to seek out Chun Shui Tang. There are branches all over now, but the original shop is in Taichung.

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If you’re a fan of bubble tea (also known as boba or pearl milk tea), then you have to make a pilgrimage to the original Chun Shui Tang (春水堂) in Taichung. This shop claims to have invented the famous drink, although there are other claims out there. Supposedly the founder of Chun Shui Tang first thought of serving Chinese tea cold after noticing on a trip to Japan that people iced their coffee there.

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Bubble tea aficionados will probably want to make a pilgrimage to Chun Shui Tang, the place where the boba craze began. They do serve milk bubble tea made with soy milk, but only as part of their seasonal winter menu. At other times of the year, dairy-free bubble tea options include pearl black tea and pearl jasmine tea.

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Image adapted from: @chunshuitang & @endless.eatss via Instagram. There’ll be no escaping bubble tea when you’re in Taiwan – they’re the place where the drink was invented after all. Now, if it’s the absolute OG you seek, then visit Chun Shui Tang, which has been credited as being the original creators of boba.

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Chun Shui Tang Address - No. 30, Siwei St, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403 Highlights - I went to the original store and it is said to be the founding place of pearl milk tea. The shop had beautiful interior design and I love the pearl milk tea. There is also a variety of food and snack options.

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I'll keep this one short, since you'll probably find a thousand posts on the place that first invented the bubble tea. While this is worth a visit, be prepared to face crowds of tourists waiting for a table. The food is good, but to be honest, there are much better local options out there.

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Chun Shui Tang Teahouse, believed to be the inventor of bubble tea, is also a must-try in Taichung. Besides having a wide range of tea-based beverages, they also serve affordable and tasty traditional Taiwanese snacks such as pig’s blood, beef noodles, and braised pork rice.

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Chun Shui Tang Highlights - Visited the original store and this is claimed to be the founding place of pearl milk tea. Had a enjoyable cup of bubble tea and some snacks in the shop, atmosphere was good and milk tea was fragrant. There are multiple outlets im Taichung.

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If you’re a fan of boba or bubble tea, then you absolutely must have one here at the original shop of Chun Shui Tang. It’s one of two Taiwanese establishments that have a legitimate claim as being the inventor of bubble tea. The other is Hanlin Teahouse in Tainan.

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One of the last places to visit on your 3 days in Taichung is the Chun Shui Tang Original Store. This is the birthplace of bubble milk tea back, which was created in Taiwan in 1986!. If you haven’t had a bubble tea yet, now is your chance!.

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This spot is best for anyone who wants to try the supposed birthplace of bubble tea. Taichung’s tea house, the founding place of bubble tea, opened in 1983 and is still serving today. They offer milk tea, food, and souvenirs.

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Sip on the original bubble tea at Chun Shui Tang teahouse, then explore the lively Fengjia Night Market. Taichung's central location also makes it an ideal starting point for trips to Sun Moon Lake and Cingjing Farm.

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The original boba was said to be made in Taiwanese tea house Chun Shui Tang in Taichung. We tried and loved it!. The Chin Shui Tang boba tastes more like tea than just milk.

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If you are a bubble tea fan, don’t leave Taichung without trying THE original bubble tea at Chun Shui Tang, the original home of this Taiwanese specialty drink.

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Chun Shui Tang has been reputed to be the first to create the legendary Bubble Tea in Taiwan. The Bubble Tea craze has since spread throughout the world.

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