Kaohsiung’s craziest bubble tea spot is here — the handsome owner turns drinks into a serialized novel!

▲ Tea Sage’s owner, Guo Hongxiang, often sports quirky outfits, and his unique personality helps him bond with students, unlike most adults. (Photo provided by Tea Sage, all others below are the same)

Reporter Li Zi Yi / Interview & Report

Near Kaohsiung High School, there’s a super popular bubble tea shop called “Tea Sage.” The drink menu is quirky, with names that are especially puzzling — Guo Hongxiang Fresh Milk Tea, Sister’s Plenty, The End of Love. The owner has given each drink its own story. Take a closer look, and you’ll find the boss is actually a handsome guy too. Many local netizens say Tea Sage is truly different — full of enthusiasm, friendliness, and, of course, good looks.

▲ Tea Sage goes for an energetic vibe, with black cups featuring gold lettering and the bold phrase “Heaven never blocks all paths” that inspires everyone.

From initially having few customers to becoming a go-to spot for queues, Tea Sage’s drinks are priced similarly to other bubble tea shops, ranging from about NT$25 to NT$70. There’s only one branch with no franchises. Aside from the handsome and friendly owner Guo Hongxiang being the shop’s signature, students from Kaohsiung High School also serve as inspiration for the drinks.

▲ Guo Hongxiang works diligently brewing tea alone in the shop, and when things get hectic, some of Kaohsiung High’s “bros” come by to lend a helping hand out of camaraderie.

Each popular drink has a unique backstory. “The End of Love” was created to comfort a heartbroken Kaohsiung High boy. The owner specially crafted a fruit tea using passion fruit, mulberries, agar jelly balls, and a base tea called “Guo Hongxiang,” encouraging him to start fresh with style. Owner Guo Hongxiang even promised to accompany him through the end. Pairing the real story with the owner’s over-the-top personal photos and humorous writing, he turned the origin stories of the popular drinks into serialized novels titled “Classmates, Don’t Drink Tea Sage During Class!” published on Tea Sage’s fan page.

▲ Tea Sage menu — creatively named drinks.

▲ Unlike typical bubble tea shops, Tea Sage’s fan page is filled with photos of owner Guo Hongxiang, whose personal charm greatly boosts the shop’s appeal.

But Tea Sage wasn’t always this popular. It opened in the summer of 2015. Aside from drawing crowds during the opening half-price promotion period, business was slow for eight or nine months afterward, with just a handful of customers each day. The owner said plainly that it was really tough at first, but they made the best of it. Later, thanks to someone sharing on Dcard, visitor numbers started rising around May and June last year, mostly students from nearby cram schools and Kaohsiung High and Kaohsiung Girls’ High.

▲ Around dismissal time, the line outside Tea Sage often stretches long, with many nearby students stopping by to grab a cup before class or tutoring.

Owner Guo Hongxiang believes a shop should have its own character. Here, his relationship with customers is like that of good friends — no cold professionalism, just warmth and friendliness. Many students eventually became friends with the boss. After school, Kaohsiung High students often drop by to chat, and over time, they spontaneously help out without pay — washing cups, greeting customers — just like family. This is a rare sight in ordinary bubble tea shops.

▲ Several popular drinks each have their own story, which the owner has also turned into serialized fiction published on the fan page — the humorous writing is laugh-out-loud funny.

Asked why he uses his own name for a drink, Guo Hongxiang laughed and said one day he heard a voice telling him to mix three base teas — black tea, green tea, and winter melon tea — in equal thirds, and that would be “Guo Hongxiang.” Perhaps sensing everyone’s disbelief afterward, Guo Hongxiang emphasized, “Really!”

What are the most beloved drinks at Tea Sage? Guo Hongxiang said “The End of Love,” “Truly Love You,” Guo Hongxiang Fresh Milk Tea, “Sadness Milk Tea,” “Confession Milk Tea,” and “Sister’s Plenty” are all very popular, while other beverages also sell fairly evenly.

▲ A bit energetic, a bit eccentric — Guo Hongxiang injects unique enthusiasm into Tea Sage, creating such a distinctive little shop.

What attracts young students to Tea Sage isn’t just the delicious drinks — the overwhelming sense of camaraderie is another major draw. Guo Hongxiang’s “being with the students” isn’t just talk. During midterms and finals, he also rolls out special promotions to reward hardworking students, which is no doubt why he’s won the hearts of Kaohsiung’s youth.

Tea Sage

Address: No. 61, Tong’ai Street, Sanchong District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 0938 488 669
Fan Page