The name alone grabs attention. Cheese tea has been quickly gaining in popularity and has become an online sensation with people both confused and intrigued. What is cheese tea? Its exactly as you would imagine it, it’s tea topped with cheese. Cheese tea originated in Taiwan and has been gaining in popularity in cities around the world.

Cheese tea is most commonly made with a matcha or herbal tea and is topped topped with a whipped cheese foam. It can be served hot or cold.

Jenny Zheng, owner of Little Fluffy Head Cafe in Los Angeles, told ABC News she first heard of the drink and tasted it while living in China in 2016. She decided to bring the concept back with her to California. “At first it was surprising. But when I tried it, it was refreshingly good and well-balanced with the tea flavor,” Zheng said. “I wanted to have my own tea shop in the states and not many people here knew about cheese tea, so it was a very new concept.” Zheng said many shops throughout the U.S. have created their own versions of the drink with a smooth and creamy whipped cheese topping. “We put milk, whipping cream, pink salt and sugar, which makes it more subtle and can be paired with any kind of tea,” Zheng said.

So, is cheese tea healthy? While tea itself is very healthy, adding toppings like cheese can dramatically increase the calorie count. So, keep that in mind when you’re in line for cheese tea in your town!

Photo: Little Fluffy Head Cafe