Happy AAPI Month! Asian heritage should be celebrated year around, but during the month of May it's important to take some extra time to highlight all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander cultures and appreciate the amazing contributions that they have made to the world. 

Brenda and Clara (our lovely co-founders) grew up spending summers visiting family in Guangzhou, Malaysia, and Singapore. The two have incorporated their heritage into Siren from the very start, beginning with the name, which is borrowed from the Chinese word, 私人的 Sīrén de. We asked Clara and Brenda about their favorite things from China (think desserts, music, shows, etc). p.s. we swear this isn't just an ad for Luckin Coffee ;) 

All-time favorite thing about China...

Clara: LUCKIN COFFEE 😍😍 their coconut latte has my heart & is an absolute must try. The shopping here is also every girl’s dream… cutest fits I’ve ever seen and super fun n unique pieces too (for a pretty affordable price…) 

Brenda: Everything is soooo accessible and safe, and it’s one of the most creative places I’ve been. I feel like China has the most insane shopping, design, personal style, food and city planning, it’s kind of impossible to miss when you’re there. 

There are also so many people all the time that everyone is so blunt and real, which I love. Also obsessed with Chinese McDonald’s and Luckin Coffee, which is next level.

Favorite movie or TV show...

C: CJ7 🤞🏼🤞🏼 our childhood comfort movie

B: No doubt, CJ7 or “Meteor Garden” (OG ONLY) which is a Taiwanese drama we used to watch with our mom growing up. 

Something that you can’t get in NYC that you miss dearly...

C: Luckin coffee 💔

B: Luckin Coffee. Simply. 

Favorite candies or sweet treats...

C: All chinese pastries are sooo good, like their milk bread (which is superrr fluff),  pineapple bun or really anything at the bakery. Not a candy, but savory soy milk with you tiao is a traditional shanghainese brekky that I love. Xūannăi is a really good yogurt drink here too.

B: I’m addicted to Mantou, which is a Chinese steamed white milk bun. It’s pretty basic and you can get it anywhere but it just tastes better in China. Also love a rice beverage…I always crave that when we’re in China. 

Favorite Chinese musician...

C: I don’t listen to that many Chinese artists, but Lexie Liu is one of my tops for pop music.

B: I love Lexie Liu so much. Her albums “The Happy Star,” “Meta Ego” and “Gone Gold” are some of my favorite albums ever. Also love “Superstar” by S.H.E. …I literally gained consciousness to this song as a baby. My mom has this story of me as a newborn in a Chinese karaoke bar in the early 2000s when this song came on, and apparently I burst open my eyes and gained consciousness. So that song definitely sticks out.