Third Culture Bakery, a California-based mini-chain specializing in butter mochi donuts and muffins is now open in Aurora, a suburb in the Denver metro area. Third Culture was created by Chef Sam Butarbutar and Wenter Shyu is gaining a lot of buzz in the gluten-free community since all of the baked goods are made with rice flour and are safe for GF and people with Celiac disease to eat.
Outside of Third Culture Bakery in Aurora
I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek of their shop a few days before the official opening on February 9, 2020. Their butter mochi donuts were quite different than the first-ever mochi donut I had at Alimama during a recent trip to New York. Third Culture’s features a slightly firm outer shell, which gives way to the soft mochi interior as you bite through.
Mochi donuts 
Mochi muffins 
The flavors draw from those popular in Asia with yuzu, ube, and matcha-forward items featured on the menu.
Of the donuts I tried, the Mango Passion Fruit was my favorite – tangy and not too sweet. Of the donuts, the Original flavor muffin, topped with sesame seeds, was my husband’s pick. Donuts and muffins range between $3-4 each.
If you’re looking for something to wash all the sweets down with, they have a whole selection of matcha drinks as well.
They have Matcha and Caramel Matcha Lattes, as well as non-dairy matcha drinks like the Lychee Matcha Sparkler, which is a mix of a sparkling water + lychee purée mixed with matcha tea – or a Golden Yogi (matcha + Tumeric).
Mixing the matcha 
Pouring matcha into drink 
Matcha Latte and Matcha Lychee Sparkler
You can also get roasted matcha beverages, coffee, and non-caffeine lychee sodas as well.
If you’re keen to jump on the mochi donut and muffin trend, head out the Third Culture Bakery shop on E. Colfax in Aurora. A downtown Denver location is also in the works!
Are you glad to see more mochi dessert and matcha drinks being offered in the Denver area? What other types of underrepresented foods and beverages would you like to see more of here in Colorado?⠀
Please note: Financial compensation was not received for this post. I was invited by the PR firm working with Third Culture Bakery to sample their offerings. Opinions expressed here are my own.
Third Culture Bakery – 9935 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO 80010; (415) 735-6699