Boba Tea and Mystery

I recently enjoyed an author event with the perfect title: Afternoon (Boba) Tea & Mystery. The rhyming factor is great, and what’s better than some refreshing bubble tea in the afternoon? Special thanks goes out to the Northern California chapters of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America for co-sponsoring the event. This was an offsite activity that coincided with the Bay Area Book Festival. Here is a signed copy I got of Kelly Yang’s Yes We Will: I had a fun time … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Muddy Water Iced Tea

Muddy water: Sweet tea and lemonade If you don’t already know, I’m a tea aficionado. However, I haven’t had a chance to try out a muddy water drink until now. After locating a Black-owned restaurant from the L.A. Times list and ordering some food, I also added on a beverage.I really enjoyed this muddy water, which was described as a mix of sweet tea and lemonade. It wasn’t too sugary, which I appreciated, and just had a nice refreshing feel to it. Perfect for summertime. Any refreshing … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Blue Lagoon

Blue lagoon: an Asian-inspired iced tea of brilliant blue I heard about a new Asian fusion place (Shiok!), so I checked it out. What I wanted to try the most wasn’t the food but this drink. After all, I do like vivid colors, as seen from my post on light bulb drinks. The “Blue lagoon” offered a lovely citrus flavor—there was even a slice of orange floating in it. Paired with a floral green tea, it had a great combination of sweet and tang. I’d drink it again, especially to see the … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Light Bulb Drink

Light bulb drink: beverages served in hollow light bulbs This is a fun trend that I've seen sprouting up. The drink's rainbow color really drew me in, so I bought my slushy at the local night market. (It's a blend of tropical flavors.) The drink-in-a-light-bulb concept originated in Korea, spread to Taiwan, and then became Instagram famous. Here's the hashtag for it: #LightbulbDrink. Fun fact: You can even buy light bulb bottles online to make your own drink! … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Lychee Ice

Lychee ice: slushie drink made with lychee fruit I’m clinging onto the last days of summer and fighting off the heat with cool drinks like this. Lychee is one of my favorite fruits (although I do prefer the similar-tasting longan more). Supposedly, you shouldn’t eat too many lychees at a time. I grew up categorizing Chinese foods into warm, cool, and neutral. The lychee fruit is warming. When overeaten, it can cause negative side effects—like nosebleeds. I haven’t experienced that … [Read more...]

#WordlessWednesday: Boba is Life

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Foodie Friday: Peach Green Tea

Well, since I'm a frequent visitor to the hospital now, I've made a nesting spot in the local Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. My latest taste from their menu includes... Peach green tea: green tea with fruity sweetness Typically, I prefer my tea plain. However, Tea Leaf offers a number of combinations. I decided to try the peach flavor. I did like the look of the peach cubes in the tea bag (see above)! It was nice to have a change where there's a subtle sweetness and flavor of fruit to contrast … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Iced Matcha

Iced matcha: Frosty green tea drink Time to refresh with an iced matcha! As you all know, I love green tea. Having a frosty cup of bitter matcha with the sweetness of milk is a great treat. What's your favorite drink? … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Huckleberry Shake

Huckleberry shake: a smoothie made with berries You might not have seen me on my blog for a while because of a recent summer vacation. We went to Yellowstone! I'll post more about my trip on Monday. But for now, I'll leave you with a taste from my break. Due to crazy traffic going into the national park, we made a pit stop at a local diner. Since they're known for their huckleberry shakes, I decided to try one. Now, I'm not a humongous berry fan. And beyond my appreciation of Twain, I … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Teh Tarik

Teh Tarik: pulled milk tea I heart this Malaysian staple. There's nothing like a frothy cup of tea to make me feel all cozy. It's also a simple recipe that lists only black tea and condensed milk as ingredients. The tea is supposed to be poured back and forth between containers to make those yummy bubbles on top of the beverage. Fun fact: Teh tarik is considered the national drink of Malaysia. … [Read more...]