About Us
The unique Signature Mochi Muffin, butter mochi doughnuts, and other drinks and treats at Third Culture Bakery were influenced by the founders' experiences growing up in a different cultural context from their parents. Chef Sam Butabutar and Wenter Shyu founded the bakery in 2016 as a symbol of inclusivity, variety, and tolerance.
The Tale of Third Culture Bakery:
After falling in love, Sam Butarbutar and Wenter Shyu opened their bakery in 2016. Initially, they were the sole employees, and six wholesale coffee shops purchased their specific products.
The Mochi Muffin was an instant hit, and one year after opening, the bakery was able to recruit its first employee. In 2018, the firm had over sixty wholesale sites and over twenty full-time bakers, delivery drivers, and retail personnel.
Source of Inspiration for Third Culture Bakery:
The bakery's unusual offerings were inspired by the owner's love for the sweets they consumed as children in Indonesia and Taiwan. The signature dish of the bakery was inspired by an Indonesian delicacy his mum prepared.
The Menu Items Include:
Third Culture provides an assortment of beverages and sweets inspired by diverse cultures:
Mochi Muffins:
The Mochi Muffin is responsible for the establishment of Third Culture. In 2014, chef Sam Butarbutar adapted his mother's recipe for the traditional Indonesian dessert to make a muffin. He attempted to construct a new object with the same cultural significance and sentimental value as the original.
The Mochi Muffin has a crisp surface and a chewy centre, along with brown butter, caramel, and coconut flavour. Third Culture Bakery's Mochi Muffin is produced using mochiko rice flour from Koda Farms, coconut milk and pandan blended in-house, and butter prepared in French. Black and white Japanese sesame seeds give the muffin its characteristic appearance.
Butter Mochi Donuts:
Third Star Bakery's butter mochi doughnuts are baked instead of fried to achieve the lightness of fried dough and the rich, chewy texture of butter mochi. In addition to the mochiko rice flour and French-style butter, the butter mochi doughnut also incorporates local dairy milk.
All Third Culture's glazes are made using fresh fruits or other ingredients sourced carefully. For instance, the glaze on the bakery's famed black sesame doughnuts is composed of Japanese black sesame seeds that have been stone-ground.
Matcha:
Matcha consists of green tea powder crushed by stone. Third Culture's matcha is made from the first and second harvests of Kyoto, Japan-grown Uji sencha green tea leaves.
Matcha from Third Culture has over 130 times as many antioxidants as common green teas or goji berries. In addition to producing a sensation of tranquillity and peace, it also includes a small amount of caffeine. The matcha latte and sparkling fruit infusion at Third Culture are hand-whisked for optimum flavour and pleasure.
Mochi Brownies:
Third Culture Bakery's mochi brownies are made with cocoa powder from Bay Area chocolatier TCHO, mochiko rice flour, and French-style butter. These brownies are chewier than standard brownies and have chocolate chips.
Contributing to the Neighborhood:
Third Culture, founded by homosexual Asians, is about much more than just cuisine. Winter and Sam, the company's founders, have worked diligently to produce delectable pastries and establish a culture of affection. They wish for this affection to extend beyond the doors of their businesses to all underrepresented populations, demonstrating that inclusivity can be tasty and beneficial for all.
From making business decisions to developing new cuisine, their actions are motivated by love. The bakery reflects the family they've selected and formed, and they want every client to join.
Culture Bakery donates a portion of its assets annually to organizations such as the Berkeley Humane Society, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, SF LGBT Center, The Trevor Project, and 1951 Coffee Company, a non-profit that employs and trains refugees and asylum seekers while educating the community and building bridges. During the epidemic's peak, the bakery contributed thousands of dollars to a Bay Area LGBTQ and BIPOC emergency relief fund.
In addition, Third Culture Bakery prepared and distributed safety kits to prevent increased acts of violence and hatred towards Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. These kits include both pepper spray and keychains with audible alarms. Winter and Sam got more than 5,200 requests for these kits and have since shipped well over 22,000.