The aroma of freshly brewed tea filled the fall air outside Parks Library as the Asian Student Union (ASU) hosted their first ever Sips of Asia fundraiser event last Wednesday.
The event was created to appreciate and celebrate Asian culture through various traditional drinks.
Students passing by had a chance to purchase handcrafted beverages for $5 a cup. The drinks included Thai tea, chè Thái, cà phê sữa đá, passion fruit tea and strawberry sago, which was a fan favorite.
The drinks were prepared by ASU members, each representing a taste of diverse cultures that make up the Asian community here at Iowa State.
“I was just walking to my next class and saw they were selling Thai tea, which I love,” Amber Wyckoff, a senior in mechanical engineering, said. “I’d give it a 4.5 out of 5. It’s not overly sweet like some others, which I really enjoyed.”
The fundraiser drew steady attention from students and staff throughout the afternoon, turning the open space outside Parks Library into a lively hub of conversation and cultural exchange.
According to ASU secretary Kai Tschang, a sophomore majoring in finance and supply chain management, the idea for Sips of Asia came from the organization’s goal to blend fundraising with cultural appreciation.
“We wanted to do a fundraiser with an Asian take on it,” Tschang said. “Instead of serving just one or two drinks, we wanted to include a variety from different Asian cultures — that’s how we came up with the name Sips of Asia.”
ASU’s broader mission, Tschang explained, is to create a welcoming space for anyone interested in Asian culture. The organization regularly hosts gatherings, cultural showcases and community events to help students connect and learn from one another.
“Our goal is to build a community where anyone — regardless of background — can come together and find a home,” Tschang said. “We hope events like this help people get to know who we are and show that we’re friendly and open to everyone.”
Planning for the event required collaboration from all members of the ASU executive board. The team sourced ingredients from C Fresh Market in Des Moines, brewed teas together in a member’s home and prepared an assortment of drinks to sell throughout the day.
The event exceeded expectations, drawing in more people than anticipated.
“I didn’t realize how much traffic goes through the area between Parks Library and campus,” Tschang said. “The turnout was amazing. Our members were calling people over, and everything was sold fast. The strawberry sago sold out first!”
For many attendees, the fundraiser was more than a chance to grab a refreshing drink; it was an opportunity to experience a slice of Asian culture and community on campus.
“It’s great seeing events like this,” Wyckoff added. “It gives people a chance to share and learn about different cultures, and it just makes campus feel more connected.”
If you would like to learn more about ASU, you can find information here.
