oh wow. I called out that there would be a ignorant upstart that invests in the trend but FAKES? wow... how lame, even passing it off as one of those cure all, understandable (as it's a reality) but that's not challenging. I mean look how easy it is for her to challenge him. and his store doesn't look appealing to nobles either, how did he promote himself? aside from commoners being duped, nobles typically follow the trend to entertain other people. not many others would be like Chloe and invest in a hobby just because they adore it. he doesn't even look like a private seller but so as much as a general store.
let me drop how it could've been better. foreshadow how there is less people visiting her. she could have equated that with the tea trend waning, she realizes that she barely made tea relevant - so a little bit of a dilemma. there is literally no reason why nobles wouldn't chase after the brand name. people know her stores authenticity and there doesn't seem to be a shortage crisis either. OUR PROTAGONIST is the origin of the trend, 1) it doesn't seem like her store is out of ways for others 2) the shop is never too crowded, but that would be a wonderful scene to show that IT IS POPULAR.
to be honest, she should be helpless in confronting the person himself. what she could be doing is warning and propagating that tea of unknown origin could be harmful. who knew consuming liquids without know what they are would be harmful? ikr