The black food truck with pink and white detailing that houses Bing Tea has become a common fixture at University of New Mexico events.
Bing Tea is a mobile food truck selling drinks and desserts at various locations, including frequent appearances at Silent Lights and International Festival. Students often crowd around to enjoy classic flavors such as taro, matcha and more unique offerings including “Honeydew You Love Me,” a melon flavored tea with custard swirl.
Bing Tea is a family-operated business, run by husband and wife David and Hieu Le.
“Our goal has always been to start up a unique food truck that obviously is mobile, that we could eventually introduce to UNM,” David Le said. “Because when I was a student at UNM, I would always be like ‘Oh, it would be so cool to have a boba spot on campus.’ But we never had a boba spot. And so, that was our main priority.”
Bing Tea’s partnership with UNM is solidifying even further as the truck is, and will continue to be, located regularly at a food truck pad at UNM’s North Campus. The truck is open for students, staff and visitors.
“North Campus lacks a lot of food, lacks a lot of drinks, a lot of things to do,” Le said. “Besides the aspect of having classes there, there’s nothing else for them to do. (UNM said) ‘How about we build a food truck pad for you and then you invite your food truck friends and join us there to fulfill the needs of the students and staff?’”
The relationship between UNM and Bing Tea is foundational to the company and has always been a priority, Le said.
“We started to follow all the UNM pages and they saw us,” he said. “‘Oh, hey, this is a food truck, but they actually will pair well with other food trucks instead of competing with them.’ We’re working with them. We’re highlighting them, so the students and staff are able to go get food, they come over to us for boba afterwards.”
The Bing Tea truck also works well on UNM campus as the truck is entirely electric, meaning they do not require propane inspections before they can operate on campus.
Beyond the opportunity aspect, Bing Tea’s connection has an emotional significance as well, allowing Le to continue participating in the University community.
“I thought that once I graduated from UNM, that was the last time that I was stepping foot on campus, but little did I know that stepping our foot back on campus would bring us so much joy,” Le said. “We’re just beyond ecstatic to be at UNM more and more often and be a part of bringing everything back to full circle. Starting with UNM, and ending with UNM. Honestly, it warms our hearts.”
Le shared his advice for current UNM students looking to follow a similar path and start their own businesses.
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“When you’re chasing the dollar, the dollar becomes stale,” Le said. “But, when you truly follow your dreams, your passion, your hopes and everything alongside those, even during the downtimes, you have the motivation to push through. I myself am a serial entrepreneur, I have multiple businesses going on all at the same time. One of my biggest downfalls was having a nail salon. That was the prime example of ‘Hey, if your heart is not into it. It’s not your dream, it’s not your passion. Don’t do it.’ Money only lasted for so long. And once money dries up, all the ambition, all the drive, all that business dies, and alongside you, part of you dies with it.”
Addison Fulton is the culture editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
