Montreal Community·Community

3 local merchants to look out for at Montreal's Asian festivals this summer

For anyone looking to immerse themselves in Asian culture this summer, Montreal has got you covered. CBC recently chatted with three local merchants who are making the festival rounds about their products, their culture and what being Asian Canadian means to them.

Events like YATAI MTL, POCHA and the Cho Dêm night market offer so much more than food

Andrea Stanford · CBC Communications · Posted: Jun 06, 2025 6:02 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 6

Two woman speak with customers at a booth sellung kimchi, cookbooks and other products — Festivals like YATAI MTL, POCHA and the Cho Dêm Vietnamese night market offer food, music, dancing and, of course, local vendors. (TIMCHIN Photography)

For anyone looking to immerse themselves in Asian culture this summer, Montreal has got you covered. From Quebec's largest Japanese Street Festival YATAI MTL to POCHA MTL and the Montreal Korean Festival to the Cho Dêm Vietnamese night market, these events offer food, music, dance and, of course, specialty vendors.

CBC recently chatted with three local merchants who are making the festival rounds about their products, their culture and what being Asian Canadian means to them.

Stéphanie Wang - LE RIZEN

A woman at a booth selling kimchi and other items speaks with customers. — LE RIZEN is the first Quebec company specializing in the production and processing of certified organic Asian vegetables. (TIMCHIN Photography)

LE RIZEN is the first Quebec company specializing in the production and processing of certified organic Asian vegetables. Operated by Stéphanie Wang and located in Frelighsburg in the Eastern Townships, LE RIZEN grows as many as 40 different vegetables such as daikon radish, bok choy, napa cabbage, hot peppers and Asian eggplants.

For Wang, growing organic Asian vegetables is not only a way to highlight her Chinese heritage, but it also aligns with her values.

"I've always liked the environment, social justice work and, of course, food, so the work I do brings my passions together," she says.

LISTEN | Stéphanie Wang on keeping local farms healthy:

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We speak with Stephanie Wang of Le Rizen farm in Frelighsburg, which specializes in growing Asian vegetables, who is one of many struggling more than ever because of inflation. Her local community is finding some innovative ways to make it work. She talks about what she's trying to keep local farms healthy and local produce available to Quebec consumers.

Wang is also working with Asian organizations in Montreal on a pilot project to give out organic vegetables in areas such as Chinatown and Cote-des-Neiges. According to her, it's a way to give back to the community.

"I'm proud to be Asian-Canadian. I feel like I contribute to my Asian culture, and I'm also really proud to be French Canadian. All my work is about promoting food sovereignty and agroecology for all, as a farmer, a board member of Union paysanne and more recently as a co-founding member of the new Alliance Alimentaire Asiatique".

Wang is bringing her wares, including her cookbook, vegan gluten free kimchips, organic Asian vegetable plants and seeds to Montreal for YATAI MTL, the Montreal Korean Festival (June 26-29) and POCHA MTL (July 24-27).

Reina Sakao (aka Madame Matacha) - Thé Sakao

A woman in a turquoise kimono speaks with a customer at her booth, which has tea and bowls on display. — Sakao Japanese Tea is a company specializing in the import of high-quality green teas and traditional accessories. (TIMCHIN Photography)

Reina Sakao, nicknamed "Madame Matcha," is a Japanese entrepreneur who has been based in Montreal since 2007. She comes from a line of tea masters dating back to the Meiji era and is the fourth generation of her family to practise this art.

In 2015, she founded Sakao Japanese Tea, a company specializing in the import of high-quality green teas and traditional accessories. A certified instructor of the Urasenke school, she leads tea ceremonies (chanoyu) and matcha workshops, sharing her passion for Japanese culture and the art of tea with the Montreal public.

Sakao works hard to strengthen intercultural ties within the Montreal community and loves interacting with everyone who visits her stall.

"I love the moment where people learn, appreciate and discover my heritage through tea," she says. She considers herself a bridge for Japanese and Canadian culture and credits her parents for her success, saying "my mom taught me to always be curious and my dad inspired me to start my business and to do what I love."

Thé Sakao will be at YATAI MTL, Matsuri (July 5-6) and Otakuthon (Aug. 8 -10).

Bao Hoang - BaoBao Playing Cards

A man holding playing cards smiles while standing at a display of playing cards keychains, pins, tote bags and stickers. — BaoBao Playing Cards sells limited edition Asian food-themed playing cards as well as keychains, pins, tote bags and stickers. (TIMCHIN Photography)

BaoBao Playing Cards sells limited edition Asian food-themed playing cards. They also offer accessories such as keychains, pins, tote bags and stickers. Bao Hoang, who is of Vietnamese origin, is a magician and mentalist and also does cardistry (the manipulation of cards). His playing card themes include instant noodles, bubble tea, sushi and bao buns, among others.

This is Hoang's first year doing the market circuit, having previously operated exclusively online. So far, he's been enjoying it.

"It's tight-knit community. Everyone helps each other. I've always operated online, doing it in person feels scaled-down, but seeing people and experiencing it in person is such a huge difference."

Look for Hoang this summer at Cho Dêm (July 17-20) and POCHA MTL (July 24-27).