Breakfast Cure

The Real Problem With ‘Congee Karen’ and Food Appropriation

"A small business that sold $15 prepackaged congee kits sparked national backlash after a viral tweet exposed racist, orientalist marketing from its white founder, who self-styled herself the “Congee Queen.” The company posted — then hastily edited — an essay originally titled “How I discovered the miracle of congee and improved it” (the original title still appears in the page metadata), and the founder issued an apology. Asians and allies pushed back on social media, sharing personal testimonies, mocking the brand’s so-called “white lady” ingredients (blueberries, apples, cinnamon) and posting TikTok videos of themselves struggling with the product; many critics argued the problem wasn’t novelty of ingredients — which do appear in some modern Chinese congee recipes and restaurant menus — but the disrespectful framing that claimed Westernized versions were superior. Coverage that flattened the story into a gatekeeping dispute missed the deeper issue: appropriation that links Westernization and whiteness with sophistication, erases the playful and inventive aspects of Chinese food culture, and lets rounds of outrage and insincere contrition become clickbait and profit." - Frankie Huang