06/02/2026
More Than Boba
This year marks the 5th anniversary of Zenko Tea.
Five years ago, we opened our first store in Iowa with a simple dream: to build a better future for our family through hard work, good drinks, and genuine customer service.
Today, we’re proud to say that making a profit is no longer our number one goal… and honestly, it never really was.
From the beginning, we always hoped to build something greater than a business that simply sells boba tea. We wanted to create something meaningful. Something that could positively impact the community that welcomed and supported us from day one.
And we believe we have finally found the purpose we want to dedicate ourselves to.
This year, thanks to the incredible support of our team members, we finally have a little more time than before. Time to look beyond daily operations and focus on something that has always mattered deeply to us: giving back.
More specifically, we want to invest in the next generation.
To us, children and young people deserve some of the greatest attention and support we can provide. They are the future of our communities, our country, and our world. If we want a better tomorrow, it starts with creating opportunities and experiences for them today.
For the first time, Zenko Tea is beginning to have the ability to contribute, even if only in a very small way.
With gratitude and a little bit of pride, we’d like to share some of the things we’ve been able to do this year:
🧋 We participated in Johnston Public Library events and introduced local children to boba tea. After attending twice, we can honestly say that seeing those smiles and excitement brought us more joy than we ever expected.
💛 We made our first contribution to Children’s Miracle Network®. It was a small contribution, but one that we hope becomes a tradition for years to come. Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong.
🔬 We unfortunately missed an opportunity to sponsor a youth science organization due to staffing limitations. We were disappointed, but we hope to support similar programs in the future.
🏫 We are currently reviewing several sponsorship opportunities with local schools and youth programs, and we’re excited about what may be ahead.
And this is only the beginning.
There are still many plans on our board. Community projects, free food events, educational programs, and many other ideas that we hope to bring to life in the coming years.
The truth is that Zenko Tea is still just a small family business in Iowa. Our desire to help often exceeds what our time, budget, and resources allow.
But we see that as motivation, not limitation.
Every year we grow a little stronger, and every year we hope to give a little more back. We may not be able to support every cause today, but we are committed to building a future where our impact on the community grows alongside our business.
Because success means very little if it only benefits ourselves.
Thank you for supporting us over the past five years.
Thank you for helping us build something that has become much bigger than boba.
💛 We boba you.
