The Richmond bubble tea scene is officially on another level. If you were anywhere near Union Square this past weekend, you probably saw the chaos surrounding the grand opening of Molly Tea.
We’ve seen some hype in this city, but this was basically the Coachella of jasmine tea.
The Scene at Union Square
Molly Tea officially opened its doors on April 18, 2026, and the turnout was honestly legendary. To celebrate, they offered a Buy One Get One (BOGO) Free deal, and people clearly took that personally.
By the time the doors even cracked open at 11:00 AM, the line already stretched around the entire block. It’s estimated that over 500 people were in line at the peak of the rush. You’d think Walmart was dropping a limited-edition Pokémon set or a new GPU—people actually brought out the camping chairs to secure their spot.
Why the Hype?
If you’re wondering why people would wait hours for a drink, Molly Tea isn’t your average bubble tea shop. They are a massive brand from Shenzhen that specializes specifically in Jasmine tea, and this Union Square location is their first-ever outpost in B.C.
- The Deal: The BOGO deal (April 18-19) was the main draw, but the first 200 people each day also scored a “Jasmine Gift Box” with limited-edition badges and sachets.
- The Drinks: Their signature Snowy Jasmine and Premium Jasmine Matcha are what everyone was after.
Is the Line Still There?
If you weren’t down to spend your entire weekend standing on a sidewalk, I have some good news. We stopped by early this morning (April 24th), and the madness has finally settled down. The camping chairs are gone, the sidewalk is clear, and the line is back to a normal human length.
While the massive BOGO deals and the limited-edition gift boxes from the Molly Tea Richmond opening weekend are finished, today is actually the perfect time to go if you just want to actually try the tea without the eight-hour commitment.
Looking for even more drink options? Check out Cotti Coffee over at Lansdowne Centre.
Did you brave the line for the Snowy Jasmine last weekend, or were you waiting for a quiet morning like today to make your move? Let us know over on Instagram!
