Celebrate AAPI Heritage

Tea Street stands as one of the first tea shops on Colorado Blvd. in Denver, which has now become a street of tea houses and bubble tea cafes.

In fact, the explosion of Taiwanese boba beverages has spread throughout the Front Range with a mix of global franchises and mom-and-pop enterprises. For those who want to patronize small businesses, head over to Tea Street at the corner of Mississippi Avenue and Colorado Boulevard.

“We like to think of Colorado Blvd. as bubble tea row, similar to how Federal Blvd. has pho restaurants up and down the street,” said co-owner Victoria Lam. “Each is thriving and has their own loyal following.”

Specializing in made-from-scratch syrups, Victoria and Patrick Lam, the brother-and-sister duo, create a contemporary twist of hot and cold tea beverages. But the pair didn’t just want to be a counter service for beverages, they also designed a space of community for those who want to get together for conversations, a meeting place for remote workers or just a spot to relax and destress.

History | The Lams claim a Cantonese heritage with strong influences from Vietnam. During the Cultural Revolution, their grandparents fled China and settled in Vietnam. Then, their parents departed from Vietnam separately during the American conflict in the 1970s to resettle in Colorado. By plane, their mom found herself in the US, while their father arrived by boat. Their father initially moved to Pittsburgh and met their mother in Colorado.

Their grandfather owned a drink cart and noodle shop in Vietnam, the beginnings of their family legacy in hospitality and service. “We wanted to continue the legacy,” said Patrick, adding that their father influenced them to continue their careers in the restaurant industry.

Born and raised in Colorado, the brother and sister duo focused on creating a space for their Asian American friends, colleagues, and customers to feel comfortable.

Traveling throughout Asia, the siblings conceived of a business idea to bring the comfort of Asian beverages to Colorado. In fact, Tea Street uses premium tea originating from Taiwan, a frequent spot of Patrick’s travels.

Popular Drinks | The top selling drinks at Tea Street are Taro Slush and Jasmine Green Milk Tea.

“You can really taste the passion and care we put into crafting each cup of tea,” said Victoria of the Taro Slush, adding that they cook and stew fresh taro to create the store’s own taro paste and syrup for the drinks. “When drinking the taro slush, the earthy flavor and naturally starchy and smooth texture really comes through.

“The Jasmine Green Milk Tea comes as a close second for popularity. The simplicity of this drink highlights the bold and fragrant tea, accentuating the floral notes and dry green bitters,” said Victoria.

The large selection of beverages could be daunting for a first-time customer. Both Victoria and Patrick ease the customer through learning their taste preferences, narrowing it down between hot versus cold, creamy or fruity, caffeinated or non-caffeinated. Based on their answers, the pair can recommend a few choices.

Secret Menu | Loyal customers are familiar with the “secret” seasonal menu. “Our not-so secret menu is a collection of our seasonal and experimental drinks,” said Victoria. “We don’t