ABOUT US

WHO ARE WE?

At Retea, we're on a mission to make bubble tea sustainable, accessible, and affordable. We started as an e-commerce brand offering DIY bubble tea kits and reusable cups, empowering customers to create their favorite drinks at home. 

Today, we’ve expanded to provide high-quality catering services, bringing the bubble tea experience directly to weddings, corporate events, and special occasions.

THE PROBLEMS

Are you tired of contributing to plastic waste from your favorite bubble tea, without knowing where to start reducing it? 

Have you ever found yourself craving bubble tea, but being too far away from a cafĂ© or not wanting to leave your house? And when you do finally give in and order bubble tea, are you tired of spending an average of $8-10 for just one cup, not including gas or delivery fees? 

These are just some of the problems that we aim to solve.

OUR SOLUTIONS

This is where Retea comes in!

We solve these painpoints by delivering reusable BBT cups and DIY kits delivered straight to your doorstep, giving you two sustainable paths to enjoy your favorite drink:

1) You can bring your own cup to a cafe to enjoy your drinks waste-free, or 
2) You can use our DIY kits to make your favourite flavours anytime and anywhere. 

Not only is this solution better for the environment, but it's also more affordable —on average, each Retea serving is half the cost of a single cup of store bought bubble tea! 

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Meet The Founder

Toby Zhou

If you’re like me, bubble tea isn’t just a drink—it’s a moment of joy. It’s a reason to catch up with friends, celebrate something special, or just take a little break from the day. But as much as I loved bubble tea, every time I threw away a plastic cup and straw, I felt guilty about the waste. 

In 2019, while studying at the University of Guelph, I searched everywhere for a reusable bubble tea cup—but nothing existed. So, I made my own. I went to a hardware store, drilled a hole in a tumbler, and built a cup that worked for bubble tea. When I shared it on Instagram, I never expected what happened next—people started asking where they could buy one too. That was the moment I realized I wasn’t the only one looking for a better way.

Then came 2020. Bubble tea shops shut down, and suddenly, people couldn’t get their favorite drinks. Friends and family kept asking me, “How do you make bubble tea at home?” They didn’t know where to buy ingredients or how to get the flavors just right. That’s when I had my second big realization—I could help. So, I created our DIY Bubble Tea Kits, making it affordable, easy, and fun to enjoy bubble tea anywhere.

Since then, Retea has grown into something bigger than I ever imagined. Thousands of people have made bubble tea memories with our kits, swapped plastic for reusables, and shared moments of joy over a drink they love. And with every order, we remove 1 lb of plastic from the ocean—so every sip makes a difference. 

 I started Retea because I believed there had to be a better way to enjoy bubble tea—one that’s sustainable, accessible, and just as fun as going to a shop. Now, I get to share that vision with you. Thank you for being part of our Communi-tea—I can’t wait to see how you make Retea part of your own story.