On May 18, the Taiwan Center in Los Angeles held its annual “Taiwanese American Heritage Week” fair at Barners Park in Monterey Park, with this year’s theme being the “Taiwanese Bubble Tea Festival.”
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles joined forces with the Taiwanese American Heritage Week Organizing Committee to launch the “Taiwanese Bubble Tea Festival,” aiming to showcase Taiwan’s culinary culture through tastings of bubble tea and other food items, promoting Taiwan as a destination for tourism and gastronomic adventures.
Popular bubble tea vendors such as Coming Soon, Hanlin Tea Room, Chin-Yuan, Lu Jiao Xiang, Sunright, Latea Lounge, Just Boba, and 85C Bakery Cafe set up booths at the event. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office prepared a Taiwan Bubble Tea Festival photo wall and a “Bubble Tea Passport” activity for attendees to enjoy. The event featured performances from various community groups, as well as booths highlighting travel, food, and games, with a highly engaging raffle draw.
Director-General Chi Chin-yao of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office expressed gratitude to the Organizing Committee for promoting Taiwan’s traditions and culture, as well as efforts to uphold the shared democratic values between Taiwan and the United States. He emphasized the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act and the expansion of practical cooperation between the two nations beyond just economic and technological sectors to encompass security and education. Chi also encouraged the public to support Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly during its 77th session in Geneva on May 27.
Congresswoman Judy Chu of the 28th District highlighted the origin of bubble tea in Taiwan, expressing how ubiquitous bubble tea shops are in the San Gabriel Valley and celebrating the Taiwanese American festival. Chu announced upcoming events showcasing Taiwan’s highlights, including its cuisine and successful businesses, acknowledging the donation of hundreds of tickets to local schools for students to participate and enjoy.
Congressman Tom Su of the 49th District remarked on the diversity of groups and organizations celebrating the festival, emphasizing California’s position as the world’s fifth-largest economy and its continuous efforts to promote trade cooperation with Taiwan, leading to job creation in the state. Su humorously noted that a day without bubble tea could be quite dismal.
Assemblymember Tri Ta of the 70th District highlighted the popularity of bubble tea in the Vietnamese community, particularly among young people. He noted that May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in the United States, signaling solidarity and support from the Vietnamese community for Taiwanese Americans.
Mayor Thomas Wong of Monterey Park, Councilman Jason Pu of West Covina, Mayor Lu Lin of Diamond Bar, Councilwoman Ray Huang of Walnut, Councilmember Jessica Ting of San Gabriel, and Councilman Stephen Chan of Temple City were among the local officials showing their support at the event.
Event Coordinator Ruth Yan announced that Los Angeles County had declared the week as Taiwanese American Heritage Week, emphasizing that the day’s activities were entirely organized by volunteers. Attendees were encouraged to support local businesses and indulge in a variety of bubble tea flavors.
Chen Wei from the Latea Bubble Tea Lounge booth introduced their handcrafted tapioca pearls, emphasizing their natural and preservative-free qualities for a healthier drinking experience. Located in Calver City, their bubble tea flavors ranged from matcha to strawberry to purple sweet potato.
The Taiwanese brand Chin-Yuan Bubble Tea, newly established in the U.S. for just over half a year with one store, showcased their signature taro balls, a beloved treat among many with over 200 stores in Taiwan.
High school teacher Wendy Rasmussen shared that about 85% of her students are of Vietnamese descent and enjoy bubble tea daily. She recalled first hearing about bubble tea in 1981 while writing an article about coffee and tea and had attempted to make it herself.
Rasmussen’s husband, Ric Rhinehart, highlighted the different experiences between savoring traditional tea, which evokes a sense of reflection, and the lively fun of enjoying bubble tea. He described the unique sensation of forceful insertion of the straw through the thin film of the cup as something novel and special.
Resident Audiey purchased caramel bubble tea for his children, as it mainly consisted of caramel and milk without tea, making it a healthier option compared to sugary sodas. He expressed his children’s fondness for bubble tea flavors from well-known Taiwanese brands such as Coming Soon and 85C Bakery Cafe, each offering unique and distinctive varieties.
Some young attendees shared their preferences for Lu Jiao Xiang or Sunright bubble tea, while a couple humorously admitted choosing their bubble tea shop based on the length of the queue.