“How Chai Tea is Made” is a collection of stories in the form of poetry as Chai takes the reader on an adventure through his life of self-discovery, loneliness, and identity. Chai aims to push for the transformative power of community as he tells stories of his life through poetry. Embark on a journey with Chai as he shares his relationship with engineering, nature, the cold, autism, mental health, people, and self.
The book is split up into these chapters following the actual process of how tea is made: Step I: Growing Tea Leaves (Tales of Childhood) Step II: Withering (Tales of the Nerd) Step III: Bruising (Tales of the Adventurer) Step IV: Oxidizing (Depression Arc) Step V: Fixing (The Aftermath: Rising) Step VI: Drying (Tales of the Artist) Step VII: Boiling Water (Quarantine) Step VIII: Dairy (Social Justice) Step IX: Sweetener (Romance Arc) Step X: Boba / Bubbles (Reflection) Step XI: Mr. Chai Tea (Identity)
