Latest news with #Boba
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Orbitel International Group Launches O's Bubble MOCHI BOBA (BOBA 3.0)
The World's First Ready-to-Eat, Non-Microwave BobaNo heat. No prep. Just chewy boba joy — anytime, anywhere. LOS ANGELES, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Boba has travelled a long way from the vibrant tea houses of Taiwan to supermarket aisles across the globe… And now, O's Bubble, under the leadership of Orbitel International Group, is taking the beloved tapioca treat to the next level with the launch of O's Bubble MOCHI BOBA (BOBA 3.0) - the industry's first ready-to-eat, non-microwave boba. The inspiration behind this step forward comes from a vision rooted in cultural authenticity and a spirit of innovation. "From the very beginning, our vision was to reimagine how boba could live beyond the tea shop — without losing its soul," said Gary Tsai, President of Orbitel International Group and the pioneer behind the MOCHI BOBA (BOBA 3.0) movement. "O's Bubble MOCHI BOBA (BOBA 3.0) represents the culmination of years of R&D and cultural dedication. We're not just exporting a product; we're sharing a piece of Taiwan's identity in a form that fits modern lifestyles around the world." This foundational philosophy set the stage for Orbitel's breakthrough in food innovation. "With O's Bubble MOCHI BOBA (BOBA 3.0), we've achieved a breakthrough in convenience and accessibility," said Fanny Chen, CEO of Orbitel International Group. "This new format isn't just a milestone for us — it's a leap forward for the boba category as a whole." From Night Market Favourite to Global Innovation Orbitel has been a trailblazing product innovator and category builder, transforming the way boba is delivered and experienced around the world — from frozen microwaveable boba (O's Bubble BOBA 1.0) to ambient microwaveable instant boba (O's Bubble BOBA 2.0), consistently pioneering solutions that preserve taste while simplifying preparation. Today, O's Bubble MOCHI BOBA (BOBA 3.0) takes product innovation further: No microwave. No heating. No waiting. Shelf-stable for more than one year— perfect for on-the-go lifestyles and global shipping. Authentic, chewy texture and premium ingredients — no shortcuts. "This isn't just a product shift - it's a category shift," said Charlotte Chen, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Orbitel International Group. "O's Bubble MOCHI BOBA (BOBA 3.0) gives us the ability to serve a wide range of channels — from grab-and-go retail to restaurants, cafes and even airlines — with a format that's plug-and-play." A Game-Changer for Retailers and Foodservice Operators O's Bubble MOCHI BOBA (BOBA 3.0) is available in customisable formats to suit every business model: Single-serve cups for mainstream retail, convenience stores, and vending. Bulk packs for foodservice and Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) partners. Private label and co-branded options for strategic B2B partnerships. "We've built the backend flexibility to scale globally," added Fanny, "Our partners can bring the boba experience to their consumers without adding operational complexity. It's truly a win-win." Experience It First-Hand: Experience O's Bubble MOCHI BOBA (BOBA 3.0) first-hand at the BBC Good Food Show in the United Kingdom from June 12–15. The product will also be officially available on Amazon US and major food service channels starting this July. From Heritage to Innovation: Redefining the Boba Experience Boba first captured hearts in Taiwan in the 1980s — and hasn't slowed since. According to Fortune Business insights, the global bubble tea market size was valued at USD 2.63 billion in 2024. The market is projected to grow from USD 2.83 billion in 2025 to USD 4.78 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.81% during the forecast period. *Source: Once a regional street-side treat, bubble tea - known for its crave-worthy texture and fun personality, it has evolved into a $4 billion global phenomenon. Orbitel International Group, as the first company to bring frozen and microwaveable boba into U.S. and European markets and the first innovator to introduce consumer ready boba through O's Bubble - continues to lead the movement with culturally respectful, globally ready innovations. "Boba is a taste of tradition — it carries the memories of a generation and the creativity of a culture," said Gary Tsai, President of Orbitel International Group. "With O's Bubble MOCHI BOBA (BOBA 3.0), we're honouring its roots while building a bridge to the future — making it easier than ever for people around the world to connect with something meaningful, one sip at a time." About Orbitel International Group Orbitel International Group is a global food innovation company committed to bringing authentic Asian lifestyle products and Boba tea culture to the world. Its flagship product line, O's Bubble, has redefined how consumers enjoy bubble tea — from frozen and microwaveable formats to its latest ready-to-eat innovation. Operating in over 30 countries, Orbitel International Group is a trusted partner to retailers, distributors, and foodservice leaders across the globe. For more information visit our websites at and For Media Inquiries & Partnership Opportunities: Ms Nina JenGlobal Marketingnina@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Orbitel International Corp. Sign in to access your portfolio
CBC
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Best of bubble tea in Regina
Want to celebrate Asian Heritage Month with a sweet treat? Allan Pulga visited three popular Boba cafés in Regina to mark the occasion.
CBC
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Best of bubble tea: These 3 Regina cafes serve up their variation on the cool treat
Hot weather is already upon us. What better way to cool off than with a fruity or creamy (and chewy tapioca or coconut jelly) bubble tea? You'll find multiple variations of the popular Taiwanese treat throughout Regina. For Asian Heritage Month, I sat down with three bubble tea operators to learn about the best they have to offer. Ray Chien of IHADAY Cafe & Bubble Tea Bar Location: 105-2300 Broad St. Most popular bubble tea drink: Teddy Style (salted caramel and taro) milk tea. Ray's preferred drink: Iced pour-over latte. Vibe and decor: Modern, minimalist Japanese vinyl cafe. Ray Chien is the OG of the Regina bubble tea game. First arriving in Regina as an exchange student from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in 2012, he opened IHADAY (short for "I have a good day") in 2017. It was the first bubble tea shop in Regina. There were skeptics early on, but he thought, "Sweet stuff and good drinks. Who's not gonna like it? [Bubble tea] is more than just a drink. You got something chewy — it's like a snack and a drink at the same time." He's referring to the additive that makes the refreshing drink iconic: the chewy and sweet black tapioca pearls known as "boba" that float at the bottom of the drink. About a quarter-inch in diameter, they're chewy and sweet. I like them, but they're not for everyone. In recent years, bubble tea cafes have added coconut jelly, flavoured jelly and even "popping pearls" (such as mango and strawberry) with a texture not unlike salmon roe, to the drinks. IHADAY began as a boba cafe. Chien even had plans to franchise the business to other cities like Saskatoon and Winnipeg, but he decided against it. He preferred to keep things small and to redesign his space with a more Japanese esthetic. The shop features vinyl records and high-quality coffee, alongside bubble tea. "I wanted to bring the specialty coffee culture from Japan and Korea to Regina and explain that coffee can be really different as well," he said. As if serving excellent coffee and bubble tea weren't enough, Chien is also a bartender with flair. He doesn't have an alcohol licence for his space, but he flips steel cups and shot glasses as he makes your bubble tea. Between being your authentic bubble tea guy, your knowledgeable barista and your flair bartender, he might be the most versatile drink entrepreneur in the city. Tam Streisel of So Tealicious! Café Location: 10-3701 Duke Ave. Most popular bubble tea drink: Brown sugar milk tea. Tam's preferred drink: Brown sugar milk tea. Vibe and decor: Bright, social and lots of plants. Born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Tam Streisel (née Duong) immigrated to Regina in 2012 to join her mom, who already lived here. Streisel was only 19 at the time. She worked in restaurants and in retail, with stints at Robin's Donuts, McDonald's and Bench clothing store, before working in the kitchen at the RCMP barracks. Now she works full-time in an office job with the RCMP, but opened So Tealicious as a side hustle in December 2022 because, well, she loves boba. "I'm a bubble tea addict myself," she said with a laugh. She has fond memories of drinking boba with her high school friends after school in Vietnam. "There was a little stall right across from the school. Bubble tea is big in Vietnam. It arrived there probably in the early 2000s. It's hot there, so to get a cup of [cold] peach black tea is really refreshing. And what does a high school kid do? Hang out with friends, go for some tea and have a snack." She also schooled me on bubble tea. Apparently the "bubbles" were originally literal bubbles that appeared from shaking the milk tea, not actually the tapioca pearls, which later became known as the bubbles and boba in the drink. Tam hasn't lost sight of the social benefits of bubble tea. "I'm proud to say a lot of people choose my store to meet up. I have seen lots of old groups of friends that haven't seen each other after COVID. I have customers that have family and visitors from out of town and they bring them here. So I'm kind of blessed in that way." Yoni Lantayona of Sweet Chaperone Café Corner Location: 1907 11th Ave. (inside the Quality Inn & Suites hotel). Most popular bubble tea drink: Taro milk tea. Yoni's preferred drink: Mango graham smoothie. Vibe and decor: Comfy and inviting, located adjacent to the hotel lobby. Leony (Yoni) Lantayona is from Davao City, Philippines. He worked in Saudi Arabia for 10 years, but tired of being away from his family. He immigrated to Regina in 2019 with the dream of finally being together with his wife, Liwayway, and two kids. He gets a little choked up talking about it. Yoni and Liwayway opened Sweet Chaperone in April 2024 and their daughters, now 16 and 17, help in the shop on the weekends. This isn't their first food venture. They were street food vendors in Davao. In addition to bubble tea — which Liwayway and the girls love — they offer pizza, pasta, inasal chicken and rice, salads and all-day breakfast, as Sweet Chaperone also provides room service to hotel guests. I asked him to make me their most popular bubble tea drink, which happens to be the taro milk tea with black tapioca pearls, but he insisted I also try their signature drink, the mango graham smoothie. It's spectacular. The graham crumble and the creamy mango flavour place it somewhere between a Dairy Queen Blizzard and gourmet milkshake. He boasts that after having tried it once, many regular customers order it via Uber Eats. The name Sweet Chaperone is a translation of the Tagalog expression, Masarap Kasama, or "nice to be with." "When you go somewhere, you need a chaperone with you," Yoni explained. "To make it safe and not boring. Since this is a boba cafe, that is the sweet part. And with chaperone, you will come with a companion." In the spirit of Asian Heritage Month, I asked Yoni if he considers their shop a Filipino boba cafe. He said boba is for everyone.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
More than just Barnes & Noble: See what else is set to debut at South Hill Mall
The former Macy's retail space at South Hill Mall in the Puyallup area is set to be filled with a new discount retailer. Discount Collection is scheduled to open June 1. According to a release this week from the mall's communications team, the 114,400-square-foot store 'will occupy a two-story space on the west side of the mall, near Round 1 entertainment.' The retailer also has stores in Olympia and Auburn. The store specializes in items tied to liquidation or overstock items from other stores, including Costco, Macy's, Target, Amazon and Sam's Club among others, offering products at steep discounts. Macy's announced closure of its store at the mall earlier this year. Items for sale at the stores include appliances, furniture, shoes, clothes, camping gear, toys and electronics. This month will see the opening of an Xfinity by Comcast storefront at the mall near Target. The 1,300-square-foot store will offer mobile devices, along with serving customers on internet and cable TV services contracts. Next year, Hong Kong Market will open at South Hill Mall, set for the summer of 2026. According to the release, 'This new supermarket will feature over more than 31,000 square feet of international food products, fresh produce, meat, fish and poultry.' It added that 'The Food Hall inside will satisfy those who crave handcrafted Bahn Mi sandwiches, traditional Chinese barbecue, spring rolls, Boba drinks and more.' The Seattle-based international grocer will be along 94th Avenue East, near Red Robin. The news of new storefronts comes on the heels of last week's announcement of a new Barnes & Noble set to open at the mall in October. The release also noted that the nearby 108-unit Homewood Suites by HIlton is nearing completion. The five-story extended-stay hotel is on the north side of the mall complex across from Regal Cinemas.
Observer
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
AI action figures flood social media
This week, actress Brooke Shields posted an image of an action-figure version of herself that came with a needlepoint kit and a pet terrier. Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga, imagined her own figurine accompanied by a gavel and a Bible. These hyper-realistic dolls are nowhere to be found in toy stores, at least for the time being. They are being created using artificial intelligence tools, including ChatGPT. In recent weeks, social media users have been turning to AI to generate Barbie-fied versions of themselves, their dogs or their favorite famous figures. Anna Wintour has not been spared the AI-doll treatment. Neither has Ludwig van Beethoven. The trend has frustrated illustrators who oppose the use of unlicensed artwork to train these artificial intelligence tools and who remain concerned about the effects of AI on their livelihoods. Several have responded by posting similar images of figurines that they illustrated themselves. 'Human Made,' reads a text bubble in the corner of one such illustration by Linh Truong, who depicted herself with her sketchbook and her cat, Kayla. Truong, 23, an artist who lives in New York City, sees the AI action figures, the latest of several AI portraiture trends, as a way that tech companies are trying to connect with users on a personal level. 'They're like, 'We want you to see yourself in our product,'' she said. To plenty of people, that's a tempting possibility. Suzie Geria, 37, a fitness trainer in Toronto, thought the action figure created for her by ChatGPT was surprisingly realistic. It came with a kettlebell and a cartoon peach to represent the glute-focused class she teaches at a nearby gym. 'It's kind of cool to see yourself reflected in a cartoon form,' she said. 'I think we're looking at other ways to see ourselves in the world we live in, which is very much online.' Geria said she had empathy for those who worked in industries that might suffer job loss because of AI. 'It's a tough one, but it's bringing people joy as well,' she said. Pat Bassermann, 42, who works in marketing and lives in Andover, Massachusetts, typed a paragraph-long prompt into ChatGPT to create an action figure of himself. 'Use this photo of me to create an action figure of myself in a blister pack, in the style like a premium collectible toy,' he wrote, adding requests for grilling tongs and a 'relaxed, friendly smile.' He uploaded a headshot and was presented with an image seconds later. 'Wife & Kids Not Included. Messy House Sold Separately,' reads a line of text at the bottom of the image. Soon, his three daughters wanted their own versions. In a few more minutes, they were presented with figurines with ponytails, accessorised with ballet slippers, a video game controller and a cup of Boba tea. As AI platforms have surged in popularity, their image-generating abilities have come under scrutiny. Artists and musicians have argued that the technology threatens their livelihoods. Deepfake images, many of them explicit, have confounded schools, political campaigns and celebrities. In March, social media was flooded with videos that used ChatGPT to replicate the style of Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. In response, some users circulated a clip of Miyazaki calling AI 'an insult to life itself' in a 2016 documentary. Martha Ratcliff, 29, an illustrator in Leeds, England, said she spent years developing a distinctive style of portraiture. She said she felt frustrated every time she saw a new AI portrait trend that ostensibly drew from the work of real artists without compensation. She gets that it's fun to hop on a trend, she said. 'But I think if you look at the bigger picture, there are a lot of creatives that are worried,' she added. 'You just don't want it to wipe out the whole creative industry.' She spent about 20 minutes making her own hand-drawn rendition of the trend. She depicted herself holding her newborn, surrounded by flowers, coloured pencils and a steaming mug that said 'mama.' — The New York Times
