Heytea Opens New Gelato Lab+ Store in New York City
The new location serves fresh gelato and sorbet flavors inspired by the brand’s signature tea bases.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Tea
Live Poll
Do you believe new experimental food shops are a positive addition to your neighborhood?
Heytea has launched its first Gelato Lab+ store in New York City, bringing the brand’s experimental tea-based dessert concept to the area. The shop specializes in gelato and sorbet made fresh daily using ingredients like real fruit, black sesame, and sticky rice.
Why it matters
The opening follows the successful U.S. debut of the lab model in Times Square, which demonstrates the brand's shift from serving drinks to offering stand-alone dessert formats. These experimental lab modules are designed to graduate into dedicated stores once they prove viable.
The shop menu features seven core gelato and sorbet flavors alongside one limited-edition option. The Times Square location previously moved 3,500 units on its inaugural day.
The players
Heytea
Heytea is a beverage company that specializes in modern tea drinks and has expanded into experimental dessert concepts.
The details
The new space features an industrial design that highlights original brick and exposed mechanical systems. The concept translates signature tea bases into frozen treats, continuing a growth strategy that began with a pilot module in Shenzhen in 2019.
Timeline
Gelato was first introduced as a lab module in 2019.
The lab model debuted in the U.S. in Times Square in February 2025.
Culture Shift
The brand follows the graduation of experimental lab modules into dedicated retail store formats to scale its unique offerings. This trend highlights a shift toward specialized, experiential retail environments that evolve from successful pilot programs.
Residents can visit the new store to purchase gelato and sorbet made fresh daily on-site. The opening adds another specialty dessert option to the local food scene, allowing customers to try flavors based on the company's signature tea recipes.
The takeaway
Customers can anticipate a menu that rotates signature tea-inspired flavors made with distinct ingredients like black sesame. The store serves as a tangible example of how beverage brands are evolving to capture demand for artisan, on-site prepared desserts.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in the beverage industry by visiting our Tea section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dairy Foods Magazine.
Live Poll
Do you believe new experimental food shops are a positive addition to your neighborhood?
