What oil does Gong cha fry in?
Gong cha cooks with Fully hydrogenated coconut oil and/or fully hydrogenated palm oil in non-dairy creamer powder; dairy cream in milk foam series — all near-zero PUFA sources.
The 5 cleanest things to order at Gong cha
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Lychee Oolong | 0.0g |
| Lemon Ai-Yu White Pearl | 0.0g |
| Lemon Wintermelon Basil Seeds | 0.0g |
| Taro | 1.0g |
| Caramel Chocolate | 1.0g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Why the frying oil matters
Most fast-food chains fry in seed oils like soybean, canola, corn, or a blend of them, which are high in polyunsaturated fat (PUFA). A handful still use beef tallow or other stable fats, which are far lower in PUFA. The oil a kitchen fries in is the single biggest driver of how much seed oil ends up on your plate. See the full breakdown on the Gong cha report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does Gong cha use beef tallow?
No. Gong cha cooks with Fully hydrogenated coconut oil and/or fully hydrogenated palm oil in non-dairy creamer powder; dairy cream in milk foam series — all near-zero PUFA sources, not beef tallow. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.