Chinese milk tea chain Chagee has suspended an outlet in Fujian and fired an employee after videos showing her preparing a drink with her bare hands went viral, the company announced on Weibo on Tuesday (Jan 6).
In the footage, the masked employee, wearing a Chagee uniform, is seen stirring a drink with her bare hands, pouring tea over them, and scooping ingredients that had fallen onto the countertop back into the drink before stirring again.
Chagee said the incident occurred at its Longwen Baolong Plaza outlet in Zhangzhou, Fujian. The company’s internal investigation and a review of surveillance footage revealed that the employee filmed the stunt to attract online attention, claiming she was making “Indian-style milk tea” with leftover ingredients shortly before closing.
The company clarified that the drink was discarded immediately after filming and was not sold. The outlet has since undergone cleaning and disinfection.
Chagee emphasized that its tea production is fully automated, and the employee’s actions violated food safety standards and “completely deviated” from the company’s commitment to hygiene and honest business practices.
The outlet will remain suspended indefinitely and will only reopen after passing strict inspections. The employee involved has been dismissed, while the store’s manager and regional supervisor were demoted.
The company said the incident highlighted gaps in staff training and supervision, which it will address by implementing stricter operational standards across all locations.
