When you hear the word “tea,” what comes to mind? For most folks, it likely conjures thoughts of delicious hot tea like chamomile or earl grey. Or, maybe you think of the iconic AriZona Iced Tea, complete with its unforgettable 99-cent price tag. But regardless of your tea-drinking style, at some point, your mind will eventually drift to bubble tea. And while this beverage is exceptionally “grammable,” there’s just one problem with this popular drink.
Bubble tea is full of sugary ingredients, so it’s far from healthy.
For starters, bubble tea is often made with tapioca pearls, also known as boba or tapioca balls.
Tapioca is a type of starch that’s extracted from cassava root, a vegetable that’s native to South America.
As a flour, tapioca has become a popular choice for folks who follow a gluten-free diet. But as “pearls” in tea, tapioca looks like bubbles, which explains the drink’s name.
Tapioca is mostly made of carbs, and contains very little protein, fat, and fiber.
Granted, carbs aren’t inherently evil. But since tapioca doesn’t have much fiber, its carbs are quickly digested and absorbed.
(Fiber slows down the digestion and absorption of carbs, which is why it’s so important for controlling blood sugar levels.)
Tapioca pearls are also fried, which diminishes the nutritional value of any food.
Finally, bubble tea often includes ingredients like flavored syrup and added sugars.
The result is a super sugary drink.
In fact, a serving of bubble tea can easily contain 300 to 400 calories, says Insider.
This is especially true if you add milk to your bubble tea.
And while bubble tea does contain tea, the other ingredients can offset any health benefits of tea.
Sometimes, bubble tea is made with fruit jelly, grass jelly, or agar jelly.
The customization factor is one of the best parts of ordering bubble tea!
Bubble tea might not be nutritious, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it in moderation.
Like most treats, bubble tea is a drink that does have a place in healthy diet.
Think of it as a “sometimes” drink instead of an “always” drink.
Admittedly, bubble tea can be hard to resist.
It’s delicious and beautiful, and totally “‘gram worthy.”
Bubble tea is a drink that was invented in the 1980s in Taiwan.
For decades, it’s been super popular beverage throughout Asia.
In North America, you can easily find bubble tea in big cities like San Francisco and Toronto.
But as the drink becomes more popular, you might even find a bubble tea spot in your own town!
If you love bubble tea, enjoy it occasionally.
It will make the experience that much sweeter.
