Topic | How to Choose the Right Straws for a Milk Tea Shop?

Once upon a time, I also dreamed of opening a milk tea shop. But reality hit hard—running a successful milk tea store isn’t as easy as it sounds. From choosing the right franchise, to picking suitable straws, to attracting customers, there are countless challenges. Today, let’s focus on one important detail: how to choose the right straws for a milk tea shop.

When it comes to opening a milk tea shop, many problems will come your way—like choosing the right straws. Believe it or not, the type of straw you use can actually affect your number of returning customers. Take for example the time when plastic straws were banned—milk tea shops had no choice but to switch to paper straws.

However, paper straws quickly became the target of endless complaints from customers, which directly impacted customer traffic. After all, straws come in direct contact with the customer’s mouth, and if the experience is poor, it can leave a lasting negative impression—one that’s hard to change later!

Straw Material

First and foremost, the material matters. For any product that comes into close contact with customers, material quality directly affects trust and satisfaction. In terms of straws, the most common options today are traditional paper straws and PLA straws.

  • Traditional paper straws are made from layers of rolled paper. The experience, frankly, leaves much to be desired—they’re hard, they fall apart easily when soaked, and sometimes even add a strange taste. No wonder they once trended on Weibo for all the wrong reasons—nobody wants their milk tea turning into “paper pulp tea.”
  • PLA straws, on the other hand, are biodegradable and feel closer to the phased-out plastic straws. But since the material is considered “premium,” the cost remains high. If budget isn’t a major concern, PLA straws are still a good option, and many leading milk tea brands have switched to them.

Beyond these, our Gaoyi team has recently developed a new single-layer paper straw, soon to launch globally. Unlike traditional multi-layer designs, Gaoyi straws are made using food-grade single-layer paper with seamless wrapping technology—completely glue-free, safe, and eco-friendly. More importantly, their elasticity and durability rival traditional plastic straws—they don’t get soggy easily and deliver an excellent drinking experience. Definitely worth looking forward to!

Straw Thickness

Back in the plastic straw era, thinner straws often deformed when exposed to heat, leaving customers with a cheap experience. Today, options are limited to paper, PLA, or the upcoming Gaoyi straws:

  • Traditional paper straws are thick but uncomfortable.
  • PLA straws offer balanced thickness but at higher costs.
  • Gaoyi straws strike the best balance in both thickness and cost-effectiveness.

Straw Color

Color matters more than you might think. Many milk tea chains use semi-transparent straws for versatility, while minimalist cup designs often look best with solid colors like black or white. The key is to match the straw color with the cup’s main color theme, creating a perfect pairing.

Straw Length

Straw length is another factor. Generally, straws should be about 5 cm longer than the sealed lid of the milk tea cup. Special adjustments can be made depending on the product type.