Bawang Chaji (Chagee), the fast-growing Chinese tea beverage chain, has started selling tea eggs at its Shanghai stores, drawing attention for the seemingly premium price tag.

On September 7, the brand's Shanghai regional official account announced that its stores would begin offering the item, presented in the form of a 'Baiwu Hongchen' tea egg. The single egg is priced at 5 yuan, or 2.5 yuan as an add-on purchase with a full-priced drink.

Consumers quickly did the math. Convenience-store tea eggs typically cost 2 to 2.5 yuan each, breakfast stalls charge around 1.5 to 2 yuan, and making one at home from a supermarket costs as little as 0.5 to 0.6 yuan. At 5 yuan, Bawang Chaji's version is roughly double the convenience-store price, about 2.5 times a breakfast stall's price, and nearly ten times its own raw-ingredient cost.

The comparison ignited debate on social media over whether the offering is a savvy premium move or a case of overpricing riding on brand cachet. Supporters note that the tea-infused preparation and brand experience justify a higher price point, while skeptics question the value gap.

For Bawang Chaji, the move appears to be part of a broader effort to extend its brand beyond drinks and into food, testing whether customers will accept a sizable markup on familiar everyday items. Whether the tea egg becomes a lasting menu staple or a passing novelty will likely depend on how consumers weigh convenience, flavor and brand appeal in the weeks ahead.