Today we’d like to introduce you to Sirine Bunkua.
Hi sirine, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
ChaTraMue OC – From Boba Dates to a Dream Come True
ChaTraMue OC began with something simple: a love for boba and weekend boba dates. Every weekend, my husband Nick and I would explore new boba shops, sipping on our favorite drinks and spending time together. Boba became more than just a treat—it became part of our story.
That shared love eventually grew into a dream: why not open a shop of our own? A place where we could bring not just delicious drinks, but a little piece of our hearts and culture too.
We chose ChaTraMue, the original Thai tea brand from Thailand, because it’s a taste of home. Known for its bold, authentic flavors and over 75 years of tradition, it was the perfect way to share our Thai heritage with our community here in Orange County.
Owning ChaTraMue OC allows us to bring people together over the same drinks we’ve loved for years. It’s not just about tea—it’s about connection, culture, and creating moments worth remembering.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
But the road wasn’t easy. I was pregnant during the entire build-out, and every step felt like a marathon. City approvals dragged on, construction delays piled up, and there were moments we truly questioned if this dream would come to life. Everything that could go wrong, did. But we didn’t give up.
We hired our amazing team in October, thinking we’d open soon after—but it wasn’t until April that we were finally able to serve our first cup. That team waited patiently for months to become baristas alongside us, and we’re so grateful for their loyalty and belief in our vision. Honestly, it was a bit of a beautiful mess.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In my professional life, I work as a Project Manager at Walt Disney Imagineering, where creativity and precision come together to build unforgettable experiences. That same attention to detail and storytelling lives here at ChaTraMue OC, where every cup of tea is part of our story.
We chose ChaTraMue, the original Thai tea brand from Thailand, because it represents tradition and authenticity. It’s not just a tea shop—it’s a legacy. In fact, the brand has been around since 1945, and is known for coining the phrase Thai Tea.
At ChaTraMue OC, we specialize in Thai Milk tea and Thai green milk tea—our signature drinks straight from Thailand. What sets us apart is what we don’t do: we never use simple syrups. All our teas are infused, not mixed, creating deep, rich flavors you can’t find anywhere else.
At its core, ChaTraMue OC is about bringing a real taste of Thai culture to Orange County. From the moment you walk in, we hope you feel the warmth, tradition, and love behind every drink. Our shop is more than a business—it’s our story, our roots, and our way of connecting our culture with the community we call home.
What are your plans for the future?
We do dream of opening more ChaTraMue locations in the future and continuing to grow this brand we love. But for now, we’re focused on doing this one right. We’re raising two young kids, I’m working a full-time job, and we’re pouring everything we have into this store. It’s not easy—but it’s worth it. Every cup served is a little piece of that love, hustle, and commitment.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: ctm_oc
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chatramue-oc-westminster
Image Credit:
Jenn Harris & William Wang
