# Cheese-Topped Iced Teas People are Waiting in Five-Hour Lines to Try Hey Tea's 'Cheesy Iced Tea' By Ell Smith | Published 2017-10-19 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cheesy-iced-tea References: [odditycentral](http://www.odditycentral.com/news/cheese-topped-ice-tea-is-apparently-a-thing-and-people-are-queuing-for-hours-for-a-cup.html) & [heytea](http://www.heytea.com/) 'Cheesy Iced Tea' is the newest beverage sensation that has people in China lining up outside for hours. The adventurous flavor combination was introduced by a once small street-side shop in Jiangmen, Guangdong, which has since grown into the popular chain brand, Hey Tea, a busy location in many urban centers. The rapidly growing beverage spot's bizarre flavor combination was inspired by Gong Cha, another popular tea brand which tops it's drinks with a thick layer of cream. Instead, Hey Tea's drink blends its bitter teas with a thick, neutralizing cheese that's imported from Australia and New Zealand. Allegedly, the cheese helps the drink achieve its smooth and sweet flavor. People will reportedly wait in a five-hour line to get their hands on this highly sought after Instagrammable treat. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.6/10 - Popularity: 92% | Activity: 98% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Drinking](https://www.trendhunter.com/drinking) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Cheesy Iced Tea:** Innovative beverage trend combining bitter teas with a thick layer of imported cheese, creating a smooth and sweet flavor. - **Long Queue Phenomenon:** Growing trend of consumers waiting for hours in line to experience unique and Instagrammable food and beverage offerings. - **Cream-topped Drinks:** Increasing popularity of drinks topped with cream or cheese, providing a creamy contrast to the base flavors. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Beverage:** Opportunity for beverage companies to experiment with unconventional flavor combinations and unique toppings to attract customers and create a buzz. - **Food Service:** Disruptive innovation potential in the food service industry by incorporating unexpected ingredients or flavor profiles to create memorable and highly shareable dining experiences. - **Social Media Marketing:** Rise in demand for visually appealing food and beverage products creates opportunities for marketing agencies to develop engaging social media campaigns that leverage the allure of Instagrammable treats. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Chinese Tea Brand Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chinese-tea-brand.md) - [Limited-Time Strawberry Beverages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/strawberry-cheesecake-drink-series.md) - [Mobile Tea Pop-Up Trucks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sandy-liang-2.md) - [Messenger App Cartoon Teas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/line-friends.md) - [Spicy Tropical Iced Teas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pineapple-lychee-habanero-tea.md) - [Espresso Bubble Teas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/espresso-bubble-tea.md) - [Icy Cherry Tea Refreshments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sweet-cherry-iced-tea.md) - [Bubble Tea Ice Creams](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/milk-tea-boba-ice-cream.md) - [Cheddar-Topped Cocktails](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cheddar-espresso-martini.md)