Asian Americans in LA Share Tea and Tradition, Bobo Style

June 14, 2013

Boba, or bubble, tea bars are growing in popularity among Asian Americans

Welcome to American Mosaic from VOA Learning English.

I’m June Simms.

On the show today, we play music from Daft Punk.

We also look at a new movement in theater productions.

But first, we visit a California bar that serves up drinks in an East Asian tradition and party atmosphere. But it does not sell alcohol.

Boba Generation

Asian Americans growing up in the United States have a very different experience from those who came before them. There is a growing sense of pride, or self-worth, among Asian Americans. For many of them, it is stylish to be Asian in the United States, especially in southern California.

VOA’s Elizabeth Lee visited with some families in the largely Asian areas of east Los Angeles. Karen Leggett has her report.

On any given night, college students and young workers crowd into the Factory Tea Bar. The room is filled with comfortable couches and other seating. The light is low.

The bar serves no alcoholic drinks. People come here for sweet tea. It is often served with ice, milk and boba from Taiwan. Boba are large, chewy balls of tapioca.

Tiffany Porter is an American-born Chinese college student. She visits the Factory Tea Bar often.