Bamboo Tube Milk Tea Goes Viral on Social Media! But Are They Using Moldy Bamboo Tubes?

Recently, a netizen reported to the media that employees at a bubble tea shop in Tangqi Ancient Town, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, were seen cleaning moldy bamboo tubes in a back alley, preparing to use them for making bamboo tube bubble tea.

In the reported video, a box of bamboo tubes waiting to be cleaned all showed signs of mold growth. Some tubes were soaking in stagnant, unmoving water, which looked extremely unappealing.

After the incident was exposed, the market supervision bureau of Linping District, where the scenic spot is located, quickly launched an on-site investigation and opened a formal inquiry. The bubble tea shop involved has since suspended operations, and the bureau stated that follow-up findings will be announced to the public in due course.

Following the incident, market supervision departments in other regions also took action, running spot checks on bubble tea shops that use bamboo tubes. So far, apart from the shop the netizen exposed, no similar cases have surfaced elsewhere. Local market departments have also required bamboo tube shops to ensure proper staff training, keep bamboo tubes in dry storage, use only clean, mold-free tubes, and serve them only after cleaning, disinfection, and drying.

Why Have Bamboo Tube Bubble Teas Become So Popular?

As Chinese-style design regains popularity, products that represent Chinese culture have naturally won favor with consumers. From Chinese-style interiors and product names to Chinese-style packaging, anything with a Chinese element -- or an element that can stand for a region -- immediately attracts young consumers, and similar products and stores multiply quickly.

When the drinks themselves cannot be differentiated, packaging becomes the key to standing out. After all, people rarely pick a brand for a plain bubble tea, but they might buy a drink for its attractive packaging. From 3D cup sleeves and 3D cups to uniquely shaped cups and cups made from alternative materials, brands care about more than looking distinctive -- they are tapping into young people's love of collecting and remaking things. Through all that DIY sharing by consumers, brands get a second round of promotion for free.

The popularity of bamboo tubes comes down to a few factors: first, bamboo is a plant that strongly represents Chinese style; second, it is an alternative material not commonly used for drink containers, so many consumers think about reusing it as a pen holder after drinking. Combine Chinese style, novelty, a physical sense of place (labels on the drink and packaging that stand for a region), and the potential for secondary DIY, and bamboo tube bubble tea pulls people in to try it the moment it launches.

Consumer Feedback and Product Issues

Popular as they are, few people seem to drink them a second time. "The drink tastes terrible," "the bottom of the bamboo tube is uneven and tips over easily," "the product doesn't justify such a high price"... apart from taking photos for social media check-ins, consumer feedback across platforms is almost unanimous.

Even consumers initially drawn in by the DIY potential said that after drinking, seeing the sticky residue of cream and bubble tea inside the tube made them want to throw it away at once. Some netizens who insisted on taking them home reported that once bamboo tubes get wet, they are extremely hard to dry completely. Even when the surface looks dry, they start growing mold within a few days.

Homogenized products, inconsistent quality, and prices above comparable drinks -- plenty of internet-famous products get criticized by consumers and never earn a repeat purchase, yet as long as they look good and generate traffic, they stay profitable.

Image source: Internet, Qingjiao Video

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

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