The owners of a Quebec-based bubble tea company named Bobba made a pitch to Liu and other possible investors on an episode of Dragons’ Den, the Canadian version of Shark Tank. They claimed that by using just three basic ingredients to “transform” the beverage into a “convenient and healthier” experience, they were “disturbing” the popular bubble tea market.
Liu retaliated against the business owners, claiming that they had stolen the Taiwanese beverage, known as boba or bubble tea, which has gained international popularity.
As a guest on the star program, Liu expressed her concerns about the idea of disturbing or upsetting bubble tea.
There is a problem with “making it better” of something that is very uniquely Asian in identity, which I find problematic,” he continued.
Additionally, the Canadian-Chinese actor asked Sebastien Fiset and Jess Frenette, the proprietors of the company, if they had employees who were aware of the cultural significance of the “very Asian drink”—which is prepared with tapioca balls.
