boba, part 4.

Boba / bubble tea has continued to grow at a rapid pace both globally and locally. In San Diego’s Convoy district alone, there are 2-3x more shops then there were pre-pandemic; many of which are expansion locations of brands from OC, from LA, and overseas.

Camellia Rd opened with a premise of bringing better boba to San Diego. Our promise included using high quality ingredients, good hospitality, and a commitment to our local community. We’re not perfect, but I think Camellia Rd has done its best to honor that promise these last 8 years. But I know that there are so many other options available today. 

As a boba consumer, it brings me joy - so many shops now have “fresh milk” or “tea latte” options where you can opt to get milk tea without nondairy creamer powder. Big brands have caught on and are even going public. Competition will continue to drive better products overall. Shops are consistently innovating and pushing the boundaries of what boba and bubble tea even means with new toppings, foams, teas, and a growing trend of incorporating savory ingredients into sweetened drinks (I've definitely been taking notes).

But as a local boba shop, it brings tension. This second wave of boba tea in San Diego will continue to bring in shops that will have different concepts and seek to fill different gaps in the market. Many will be able to compete on price, relying on brand flash and huge marketing budgets. Many will compete with unique flavors and toppings, equally setting and chasing the popular drink trends.

But what about Camellia Rd, specifically? Lately, I’ve found myself looking through those early blog posts and internal memos for guidance. We had talked about why we choose to use milk and how to brew loose leaf tea. We talked about the vision of a 3rd space, and how boba can uniquely offer people a feeling of home. And I think the way forward is staying true to that original promise. To use high quality ingredients, provide good hospitality, and be committed to our local community. We want to change - no, we need to change - and as boba tea continues to evolve we want to return to pushing the boundaries of better boba.

To the steady and loyal Camellia Rd fans; we hope you’ll continue to join us for this ride.

-Ricky