Taiwanese teahouse chain Chatime has franchised in capital city Malé.

An official from the local branch said that the branch opened for business on Monday. The local outlet, established at the China-Maldives Friend Bridge View, a platform near the site where the bridge connecting the capital city to its urban extension Hulhumalé is being constructed, will be open from 11:00 to 12:00 am.

Chatime, founded in 2005, by Henry Wang Yao-Hui began expanding a year later. Wang Yao-Hui’s initial business model included using a variety of flavours, fruits, and toppings on quality fresh tea. He used tea machines that could produce tea at a consistent quality.  

In 2006, it opened its first store outside of Taiwan in California. Since then the company has expanded to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Dubai, and the rest of Asia – including Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, Japan, India and even China.