AACE INTERVIEW: CHRISTINA WONG of Fruit and Flower
I met Christina at a bar and it wasn’t a dark and stormy night…she walked in with friends to attend a small cannabis launch event; it was that moment I realized I was in the presence of someone I wanted to be friends with. Christina's journey as a cannabis food chef extended beyond the kitchen and into boardrooms, farms, and on our phones, showing us the latest in genius combinations of fruit, flowers, and mushrooms. Recognizing the power of storytelling, she became a passionate advocate for educating and destigmatizing cannabis through her writings. With a flair for prose and a keen understanding of the intricate nuances of cannabis-infused cuisine, Christina began crafting captivating articles, blog posts, and massively entertaining events. Her eloquent words brought the sensory experience of cannabis-infused dishes to life, enticing readers to embrace this evolving culinary frontier. And I am lucky to call her “friend.” - Ophelia Chong
Why Magu Magic? Our art curator friend + partner Rachel Du came up with Magu Magic! as the name for this art exhibition and event series exploring Magu, the Daoist hemp goddess of longevity. This project is the evolution of Mogu Magu from the cultural events we hosted last year to build a global community of cannabis-positive AAPIs and reclaim our roots in healing and plant medicine. Magu Magic! is "newtro" -- a trend in South Korea that's an intriguing combination of new and retro, which takes old culture and reapplies them to a modern society and lifestyle. We are examining old stories and depictions of Magu and cannabis/hemp through art history, and reimagining that for us today as current, cannabis-consuming Asians to destigmatize cannabis in AAPI communities. When we tell people about Magu, they become so curious and say, "I had no idea Magu existed!" If we can create new works of art to replace what was destroyed during the cultural revolution, to share Magu's story and remind us that hemp (cannabis) is a part of our cultural history and heritage for healing, then maybe we can change people's hearts and minds to end cannabis prohibition.
What is the biggest hurdle for women of color in cannabis? Being seen, heard, respected, valued, and compensated for our ideas and contributions. I've noticed from my own experience and from talented women and POC work at companies with a lack of diversity at the top that it can be incredibly isolating. When we get together, we thrive and accomplish incredible things as a community.
You are an artist that is not cubby holed into one medium; you paint with words, food, and objects that you combine that surprise and delight us; what inspired you to enter cannabis? And did you see how much potential was in it when you first joined?
I have a slightly rebellious, entrepreneurial spirit and enjoy stretching my curiosity. The newly legal recreational cannabis industry in California piqued all my senses, and I saw the potential to use my skills to be a part of shaping something new. When I got into the industry and looked around, I noticed there weren't many beautiful, gorgeous Instagrammable desserts featuring cannabis -- mostly pot brownies and space cakes. I started baking beautiful desserts and baked goods and posting them on IG to teach and inspire people about cannabis. There are so many fascinating threads to pull, which is how I find myself with a multitude of mediums -- a baked baker, content creator, writer, publicist, and storyteller.
What was your favorite recipe that you thought wasn’t a winner but surprised you?
Essential box brownie mix with instructions for exactly how much flower to use. I underestimated how little accurate information is about how to dose cannabis when making edibles at home. The information varies wildly, from intentionally vague to irresponsible. Readers love the basic box pot brownie mix because it's easy to make, and they can feel confident knowing the dose per brownie. Plus, brownies are hella delicious. It's hard to f*ck up a brownie.
What is your go-to inspiration this week?
Baby ducklings! I 'shroomed and went to a secret garden and Japanese tea house last weekend. I was sitting quietly on a stone bridge over a pond feeding koi fish and turtles, when I noticed a brood of fuzzy, adorable ducklings under a bush. One by one, they hesitantly jumped into the water, some more brave than others. As I watched them test out their swimming feet for the first time, I was reminded that any time you do something for the first time, it feels scary and disorienting. The hardest part is finding the bravery and courage to take that first leap into the unknown. So I assume that leap of faith into the unknown with Magu Magic! Having you, Wendy, and Rachel by my side makes it more fun.
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