"Who Would Buy This?" Modern-Day Stamp Collecting... Young People Obsessed with Cup Holders and Paper Bags

A Trend Among Chinese Generation Z
Collecting Milk Tea Cups, Cup Holders, and Paper Bags
Limited Editions Popular on Secondhand Platforms

Among Generation Z in China (those born from the late 1990s to the early 2010s), collecting milk tea cups, cup holders, and paper bags has become a trend. These items are also traded on secondhand platforms, with limited edition products being especially popular.

On November 11, Chinese media outlets such as Zhonghua Net and Hongxing News reported, "Recently, it has become fashionable among Millennials & Gen Z to collect milk tea cups, cup holders, and paper bags released by various brands such as BaWangChaJi, YidianDian, and Luckin Coffee."

A collection of limited edition milk tea cup holders. Weibo

According to these reports, searching for "milk tea cup holder" or "milk tea cup" on Chinese secondhand platforms yields countless results. Prices range from 1 yuan (about 180 won) to 50 yuan (about 9,000 won). Limited edition paper bags are sometimes traded for as much as 100 yuan (about 18,000 won).

Zhou Dong, a university student, said, "I'm a huge fan of animation, so I only collect items from the 'Nezha' series," adding, "My friend Wang Xiaoxiao collects items from series like 'Crayon Shin-chan.'"

Ju Zi, a 27-year-old office worker, has collected more than 1,000 milk tea paper bags since April last year. "Whenever a brand releases a new product, I buy three or four cups just to get the paper bags," he said. "If there are no new products, I don't drink milk tea." Ju Zi also mentioned that he earned about 800 yuan (approximately 144,000 won) by selling paper bags online, and that "limited editions can sell for more than 15 to 30 yuan (about 3,000 to 6,100 won)."

A collection of limited edition milk tea cup holders. Weibo

Mr. You, an office worker born in the 1990s, has collected more than 200 paper bags. He described collecting unique paper bags as a hobby similar to stamp collecting. He added, "By selling rare limited edition paper bags, I made a profit of 100 yuan (about 18,000 won)."

Shun, an advertising industry professional, said in an interview, "The collaboration and limited edition releases of milk tea brand cups, cup holders, and paper bags have created a craze, leading to their appearance on the secondhand market." He pointed out, "This trend may become a new marketing direction for the beverage industry."

Psychologist Ning explained that this trend is a way for the younger generation to relieve their emotions. He said, "Through activities like collecting blind boxes (such as Labubu), gold, and milk tea cups, young people are trying to alleviate their anxiety, and this is a normal psychological expression."