One of the biggest bubble tea chains in China is setting up shop in Richmond.
We spotted signage for TeaByDo, also known by its Chinese name Cha Bai Dao (茶百道), up at Union Square Shopping Centre on Capstan Way.
The brand is taking over a corner unit that previously housed a flower shop.
This will be TeaByDo’s first location in British Columbia and its third in Canada, following its Toronto outpost that opened back in February.
If you have not heard of TeaByDo, the numbers speak for themselves.
The chain has more than 8,700 stores worldwide and sells over one billion cups of tea per year.
It was founded in Chengdu in 2008, a city known as the Panda Capital of China.
The brand leans into that identity with a cheerful cartoon panda mascot called Ding Ding Cat, which features prominently on its signage and packaging.
The brand is also known as Cha Panda in some international markets.
TeaByDo has been on a global expansion since 2024, opening locations in cities like Seoul, Paris, and now Canada.
The brand describes its approach to tea-making with a panda-inspired philosophy.
Just as pandas in the forest only pick the freshest bamboo shoots, TeaByDo says it uses only the freshest tea leaves and ingredients in every cup.
According to the window displays at the Richmond location, some of the brand’s best sellers include Mango Pomelo Sago, which sells 92 million cups per year.
Their Signature Taro Ball Milk Tea moves 73 million cups annually.
The Oolong Milk Tea with Soybean Cheese Foam sells 48 million cups per year.
Union Square Shopping Centre has long been known among locals as a bubble tea battleground.
The plaza has such a high concentration of tea and dessert shops that it has earned the nickname Diabetes Plaza by the Chinese community.
TeaByDo is entering at an interesting time for the plaza.
MACU Tea recently departed from Union Square, leaving a gap in the lineup.
Molly Tea is also in progress at the plaza and is expected to open in April.
With MACU gone and new competitors moving in, the top spot at Union Square is now up for grabs.
TeaByDo now joins a wave of upcoming new food spots opening across Richmond like Taoke, Chengdu Noodle, and Dao Field Noodle Shop.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: Union Square Shopping Centre, Richmond, BC