Milky tea made with Chinese leaves brews Japan's latest drinks trend

Food & BeverageShops bet on premium tea leaves, aroma and Instagram-ready presentationChazhong's milk tea, pictured at its outlet in Yokohama, features a steam effect from a teaware device atop the cup. (Photo by Manami Yamada)MINAMO ITO and SHUHEI YUZAWAJuly 25, 2026 11:28 JSTOSAKA/TOKYO -- Move over bubble tea. Japanese cafe culture is being infused with a new trend: milky brews made with Chinese and Taiwanese tea leaves that are drawing fans focused on flavor and aroma as much as on how eye-catching drinks look on Instagram or TikTok.