Starbucks' Summer-Berry Refreshers and the Broader Boba Industry

An Intersection of Trends and Cultural Heritage

As you may have seen, Starbucks recently launched its Summer-Berry Refreshers, featuring “juicy raspberry flavored pearls” that bear a striking resemblance to those lovely tapioca pearls - boba, yet are distinctly marketed to avoid any direct association with the authentic Taiwanese drink.

This move comes at a time when the global boba market is booming,…