Thorns Have Roses

A tale of two teas: boba and chai in US consumer culture

Anurag Papolu and Christina Li

Christina and Anurag discuss how boba, or bubble tea, made its way from Taiwan to the US, and how chai has done the same from India. How has boba tea remained a drink mostly sold by and for Asians, while chai, like yoga and golden milk (turmeric milk), has become a symbol of gentrification and an elite lifestyle?