Built upon the vision of two passionate founders, Third Culture Bakery delights Bay Area foodies with fresh-baked mochi pastries and matcha beverages. Theirs is a unique story, rooted in love and nostalgia; Sam Butarbutar and Wenter Shyu met in Berkeley and decided to open the bakery as an ode to the delicious treats they remembered from their childhoods.
Sam crafted their signature recipe based on a beloved Indonesian dessert his mother used to make - creating a sense of both comfort and familiarity. Despite having to juggle long hours, hard work, and full-time jobs, the duo managed to provide their pastries to six wholesale accounts within their first year.
It wasn't long before the Mochi Muffins gained a cult following, enabling the pair to hire their first employees by 2018. At present day, they have over 60 wholesale locations across California's Bay Area - all staffed by dedicated bakers, delivery drivers, retail members, and managers - that offer nostalgic flavors with a modern twist.
But Third Culture's impact goes beyond catering for hungry palates: They strive for acceptance in everything they do, from maintaining a warm atmosphere in their West Berkeley Showroom store to donating parts of its assets each year to charities such as the Berkeley Humane Society and 1951 Coffee Company - aiming to empower refugees and asylum seekers through education and job opportuniti