2023 has been a frenzy at Cold Tea Collective. We shared countless stories from different industries and perspectives by the Asian diaspora in the United States and Canada. This year, we told more stories that empower the next generation of the Asian diaspora to live their most authentic and fulfilled lives. Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey so far and beyond!
Closing out the year, here are some of the top stories we shared on Cold Tea Collective in 2023.
Paths to Prosperity
Cold Tea Collective worked with US Bank to bring readers Paths to Prosperity, a series of stories celebrating Lunar New Year prosperity and wealth for Asian Americans. We interviewed notable AAPI figures about their relationship with money and what it means to them.
- Bling Empire’s Kelly Mi Li shares advice on entrepreneurship and her plans for Lunar New Year
- Philip Wang and Helen Wu-Wang reflect on wealth, family, and Lunar New Year traditions
- East Meets Dress is modernizing wedding traditions for Asian brides
- Ryan Alexander Holmes shares Lunar New Year memories and his perception of money
Reel Reviews
Staff writer Ronak Gandhi is at the helm of our column, Reel Review, where he offers critical analysis, giving new life and perspective to the movies and shows we loved growing up. We look forward to seeing what’s coming up on the big screen featuring AAPI stories and talents.
- Harold and Kumar: Using stereotypes to fight stereotypes
- Keep RRR-evolting: Return the Oscar for “Naatu Naatu”
- Shortcomings: An unusually everyday story
- More than a living legacy: Shannon Lee and her impact
Rush Hour: Buddy Cops tackle racial bias
Interviews
Our goal at Cold Tea Collective is to share and uplift stories from the Asian diaspora, and we can’t do it without our community’s openness to share their stories with us. In 2023, we interviewed many amazing folks who make a difference in their communities.
- Michelle Yeoh’s advice to the Asian diaspora after her Golden Globes win
- Past Lives allows the complexities of the Asian diasporic experience to simply exist rather than contend
- Watchlist: ‘Beef’ forces us to face our shame
- Chef Dara Yu cooks with culture in mind
Cold Tea Reads
Staff writer Nathalie De Los Santos (on Instagram as @PilipinxPages) has curated many recommendations by AAPI authors to stock your bookshelves. From children’s books to non-fiction to dramatic novels, there’s a book for everyone from our Cold Tea Reads column.
- 5 books by queer Asian authors to celebrate Pride Month
- Essential books to read during Filipino-American History Month
- David Bouchard’s “I Am Not a Ghost”: A Story of Resilience and Heritage
- A Career in Books: A Novel about Friends, Money, and the Occasional Duck Bun by Kate Gavino
New beginnings
Heading into the new year, we are so grateful to have worked with many of our team members who have shifted in their focus and developed new storytelling skills.
Sneaker Culture – East vs. West is the first foray for writer Evan-Thomas May and long-time Cold Tea Collective editor Samson Chan, diving into a new column about fashion and culture in the Asian diaspora.
Long-time staff writer Cecilia Huang, the voice behind Dear Kiki, just wrapped up her second maternity leave while also writing for us. She recently published a new series of stories featuring the Chan Sisters, alongside myself and one of our newest editors, Jeevan Sangha.
Finally, capping off 2023, Cold Tea Collective is excited to share that in 2024, we’re participating in two innovative programs for AAPI publications to further our growth: ‘Gold Publishers’ by Gold House; and the ‘Multicultural Content Amplifier (MCA)’ Program by Kargo.
Stay tuned for more stories from the diaspora—for us, by us.
