Introduction:Tea BaiDao has launched a series of beverages featuring wild litsea, offering a free litsea-themed pendant as a limited-time promotion with the purchase of a large cup. However, the “little stick” accessory, which was elegantly promoted in the ads, turned out to be much smaller in size and oddly shaped upon arrival, sparking widespread criticism from consumers. This article delves into the flavor profile of litsea, explores the brand’s marketing strategy, and compares the product images with the actual items, providing a comprehensive look at the controversy surrounding these “wooden accessories.”
Following HeyTea’s introduction of a litsea-flavored drink called “Litsea Yunnan Papaya,” Tea BaiDao has also incorporated this distinctive regional spice into its new offerings. The brand launched a limited-time campaign where customers who purchased a large cup would receive a free wild litsea pendant. Dubbed “little stick” by netizens, this accessory quickly became the subject of heated online discussions and negative feedback due to its significantly smaller size and irregular shape compared to the promotional visuals.
Litsea is a small evergreen tree belonging to the Lauraceae family, also known as mountain pepper. It is primarily found in southwestern and southern regions of China and is a common spice in Yunnan-Guizhou cuisine. With its slender, stick-like appearance, it emits a complex aroma that blends the freshness of lemon, the spiciness of lemongrass, and the coolness of mint, making it a key seasoning in many local dishes. However, its unique and layered scent is not for everyone — some netizens have even described its taste as “more complicated than the human heart.”
To promote this new flavor, Tea BaiDao rolled out the Wild Litsea series across its national stores, combining litsea with lemon, olive, and mango to create three new drinks, further increasing exposure for this niche spice. As part of its marketing strategy, the brand announced that customers who bought a large cup of the new drinks would receive a litsea pendant, turning a key ingredient from the beverage into a tangible item. This move successfully caught the attention of accessory collectors and fans.
In the official promotional images, the litsea pendant is displayed against a soft, light wood-toned background, with a small stick gently wrapped in thin string, creating a natural yet aesthetically pleasing visual. Since litsea itself has a subtle fragrance, the pendant is not only decorative but is also considered usable as a small aromatherapy item. This dual appeal attracted many style-conscious consumers, with numerous netizens commenting in the discussion threads that they “really want to collect it.”
As the promotion gained traction, many consumers placed orders to get their hands on this special accessory, and soon, a flood of photos showing the actual “little sticks” received began circulating online. However, these images were met with strong criticism due to the stark contrast with the promotional visuals. Some users complained that the actual litsea pendants were only about a quarter the size shown in the ads, with their once-slender forms now appearing short and stubby. Some even said they looked more like “wooden beads,” too small to even tie a string around, let alone hang as decoration.
Other customers pointed out that not only were the litsea pendants they received much smaller than expected, but their shapes were also highly irregular — twisted, bent, or even with cracked bark — a far cry from the “seller’s showcase” meticulously crafted by the brand. One netizen shared that they had been expecting a straight stick with natural grain patterns, but instead received something that looked like a small piece of chalk, expressing deep disappointment.
In response to the wave of negative reviews, an individual claiming to be a Tea BaiDao store employee explained that customers dissatisfied with the quality of the accessory could directly contact store staff, and that the brand offers an exchange service. However, such remedial measures did little to ease the disappointment felt by consumers over the gap between expectations and reality, and further fueled public discussion regarding the brand’s quality control and marketing integrity.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
