Asians call out Portland brand ‘Better Boba’ for alleged whitewashing
“We are listening to your comments about the branding and mission of Better Boba. Our messaging was never intended to insult a culture, origin, or identity.
Truly, we love boba. We always hoped to share the tradition and not suppress it. Some of our families are also Taiwanese Americans and it was important for us to create a brand that was culturally reflective of our entire team.
Our quest for a more natural boba started as parents and shop owners. Most packaged boba in North America does not mirror the natural, artisanal boba available in Taiwan. This started a journey across the globe to understand boba production. Our research found that as global demand increases, simple ingredients are being replaced with preservatives and additives, limiting our retail options.
There were also supply chain concerns. Fulfillment delays caused a national boba shortage, and establishing local production could alleviate distribution interruptions to boba shops across the country.
In the context of our name, ‘better’ references simple, healthier ingredients compared to the limited packaged boba available in North America. ‘Better’ identifies our efforts to create a more sustainable manufacturing and distribution process. ‘Better’ ultimately represents that boba makes so many things better!
‘Better’ does not identify our product as being better than the original. ‘Better’ is not to claim our interpretation of boba is the best in the market. Our messaging was intended to elevate and not marginalize. We recognize that our products are simply a version of the beloved Taiwanese tradition.
For us, a boba revolution is about having even more access to all-natural boba in North America. It’s about sharing the origin story. It’s also about collaborating with other brands to showcase the versatility of boba.
We will continue to listen and engage in dialogue to be better. We remain committed to our mission of celebrating boba and its origins. Moving forward, these conversations will prompt change in our messaging to better support the communities we represent and champion.”
Parth, Allison and the Better Boba Team
