Well, for starters, if you have dairy-intolerant friends who have never tried boba, calling the drink milk tea could deter them from tasting the non-dairy options that many bubble tea shops provide.

Teh tarik, a frothy milk tea, is considered the unofficial national drink of Malaysia. The hot, black tea made with sweet condensed milk, is equally popular in neighboring countries like Singapore.

The 38-year-old moved to Vancouver two years ago. His friends had told him on a prior visit that the milk tea in the city was not very good. He was determined to do something about it.