Oriental Infotainment

(CNA reporter Cheng Aifen, Vancouver, 22nd, Special Report) Taiwanese pearl milk tea has become popular worldwide. The largest pearl milk tea festival in Canada kicked off in Vancouver for two consecutive days on the 22nd. Dozens of government officials from all levels in Canada showed up to support the event. Even Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin said she is a super fan of Taiwanese pearl milk tea.

The Lieutenant Governor represents Queen Elizabeth II in each province. Austin rarely attends events organized by the Chinese community, but this time, she not only made an appearance and delivered a speech but also spent several tens of minutes visiting various booths to savor the delicacies and have casual conversations with Taiwanese vendors.

Austin praised the event as an exquisite cultural feast. “This carnival brings together various ethnic cultures. In addition to pearl milk tea, there are other delicious foods and performances of music and dance from different ethnic groups. It’s heartwarming to see such beautiful sharing and collaboration here.”

Jagmeet Singh, the leader of the Canadian federal New Democratic Party, led three Members of Parliament from his party to attend the festival, and he praised the Taiwanese community for their contributions to Canada.

Eight provincial legislators from all parties in British Columbia attended the event, including three Taiwanese-Canadian legislators: Anne Kang, Niki Sharma, and Joanne Yap, all of whom actively became super promoters of pearl milk tea, praising its excellence to everyone they met. Legislator Niki Sharma mentioned in her speech, “The birthplace of pearl milk tea is in Taichung, Taiwan, my hometown. I am delighted to be able to bring my child here to experience the good taste from my memories.”

On the first day of the event, about ten thousand people participated in the Pearl Milk Tea Festival, each person joyfully holding a cup of pearl milk tea, transcending skin color and ethnicity.

Li Jiguang, the Honorary President of the United Chambers of Commerce of Central and South America Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce, came all the way from Costa Rica to Vancouver to visit friends and unexpectedly encountered such a lively event. He smiled and told CNA, “Although the airfare for this trip was expensive, it was totally worth it! Costa Rica only started having pearl milk tea shops in the past year or two, but here in Vancouver, I can taste the flavors of more than a dozen different brands all at once.”

Mrs. Zheng, who has immigrated to Canada for many years, strolled through the Pearl Milk Tea Festival with her grandson. She said, “For me, this is a great place to overcome homesickness. I am delighted to see many Taiwanese compatriots and Taiwanese delicacies. For the next generation, it’s a great opportunity to learn about Taiwanese culture. A cup of milk tea can tell many stories.”

Liu Lixin, the Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver, said, “Pearl milk tea is a highlight of Taiwan’s beverage industry. It is not only Taiwan’s national drink but also a source of pride for Taiwan, making the world more aware of Taiwan.”

Yang Cheng-fan, the president of the Canadian Multicultural Exchange Association and chairman of the Pearl Milk Tea Festival, stated that the event planning this year was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and some ideas could not be implemented in time. “But next year, we will strive even harder. Not only will we incorporate creative on-site milk tea cooking competitions, but we also plan to create the world’s largest pearl milk tea and apply for a Guinness World Record.” (Editor: Huang Ziqiang) July 23, 2021.