WESTMINSTER, California (NV) ― Sugar cane juice long has been a staple drink for Vietnamese, given its sweet and tangy “made to order” mix of kumquat and fresh sugar cane. Sugarcane is commercially grown in Vietnam, and there are a lot of sugarcane juice carts in Vietnam. As a resident of Little Saigon, I grew up drinking a lot sugar cane juice. I am always on the lookout for a good drink.
About a month ago, when passing by the corner of Brookhurst Street and McFadden Avenue, I saw a truck called with the name Oh Mía Mía Mía on it. I thought to myself: “Wow, a truck selling sugar cane juice? That’s a first.”
A few days later, I decided to drop by, and I had the chance to talk to the owner, Ming Hong Chen, who offered me a delicious and refreshing cup of sugar cane juice. Here’s part of our conversation.
Q: How long have you been operating this business?
A: “We’ve been operating in Irvine for six years, and we just moved to Little Saigon two months ago. The customers in Irvine really liked the products that we sell here. We’re selling not only sugar cane, but also healthy juices. Now, we want to serve Little Saigon our delicious juices.”
Q: Why did you want to open a juice bar/truck?
A: “I was a food chemist back in Vietnam and a head chef for 25 years. I want to give the community a healthy, yet still tasty beverage. Our sugar cane comes from a farm we know, and our fruits and vegetables are locally grown, so our customer can feel the quality in each sip”.
Q: Are there any problems with running this business right now?
A: “There aren’t any noticeable problems that can make an impact to our business, not that I know of. There are plenty of parking spaces here; people on the road can easily see us. As for staff, I handle all of the work here on the truck, and my husband drops by to help from time to time.”
Q: What do you want the people of Orange County to know about your business?
A: “Sugarcane juice is really healthy; it is rich in iron, magnesium, calcium, and other electrolytes, so it is great for dehydration. It also helps cure the common cold and fight fever by boosting our body’s protein level. On top of being very healthy, it is also delicious, so I want to help the community choose a delicious and healthy beverage. I would like to thank the support of our longtime customers and the local farmers for providing us with wonderful produce. Please come and support us and support our farmers.”
The facts
Where: The Oh Mía Mía Mía truck is parked at the corner of Brookhurst Street and McFadden Avenue, Westminster, in the parking lot of Saigon City Marketplace.
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
What: Sugarcane juice with optional flavorings such as kumquat, lime, ginger, pomegranate and chia seeds. Antioxidant made with apple, carrot, orange, lime and ginger. Deep green made with celery, cucumber, kale, parsley and lime. Detox made with beet, apple, parsley, ginger, kale and lime. Smoothie combinations: strawberry banana, mango pineapple and green smoothie.
Cost: $5 for 12 ounces, $6 for 16 ounces, $7 for 24 ounces.