If you frequent ice cream parlors and bars or turns often on social networks, you will surely have seen at least once a colored glass of Bubble Tea Probably in the hands of some guys, perhaps sipped with a large straw from which the famous tapioca pearls emerge. With over 6 billion views on Tiktok, the Bubble Tea is at the center of challenges, DIY recipes and viral tastings. But what really hides behind this very popular drink?
What is the bubble tea and because it likes so much
The bubble tea is based on green or black tea, enriched with tapioca pearls, fruit pulp or other “topping” that multiply the variants. It can be drunk or cold, on site or takeaway, and has conquered the public for its freshness, originality but above all its exotic charm. A small luxury that generally costs from 5 euros upwards, a small price.
This drink of Taiwanese origin, born in the 1980s, has quickly become a real global phenomenon, loved above all by young people and pushed by Asian brands such as Yi Fang, Machi Machi or Koi Thé.
What the Bubble Tea contains
Despite the presence of tea as a basic ingredient, it can make you think of a natural and healthy drink, The sugar content of the Bubble Tea is often very high. A glass of about 50 cl can contain up to 50 grams of sugar, equal to half of the maximum daily dose recommended by the French National Agency for Food Safety (ANSES). This makes it comparable to sugary carbonated drinks.
The Neurophysiologist Xavier FioMontiof the Department of Human Nutrition of the French National Institute for Agricultural, Food and Environmental Research (Inrae), contacted by the French magazine 60 Millions de Consommateurs, It warns that such a high intake of sugar can lead to the accumulation of fat in the liver and in the fat tissues, increasing the risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
In addition, the “ready to drink” bubble tea sold in supermarkets often hide long lists of ingredients with Various additives: emulsifiers, preservatives, dyes and aromas, they make it An ultra-processed product.
Among the reported additives we find:
Mathilde Touvier, expert in nutritional epidemiologyexplains how the frequent consumption of these ultra-processed foods is associated with the development of chronic diseases. Some common additives in bubble tea can also cause digestive disorders or overcome the recommended daily doses, especially in children.
Can we drink bubble tea?
As with all sugary and industrial food fashions, The advice is not to overdo it with the consumption of Bubble Tea. Choosing low sugar or toping options can help limit negative effects. And for those who love to try your hand at do it yourself, it is good to be careful also to commercial products to prepare the bubble tea at home, which may also contain non -healthy additives.
The success of the Bubble Tea is an exemplary of the way in which food trends, often driven by social media and the desire for exotic novelty, can hide pitfalls for health. Behind a fresh, fun and “instagrammable” image, sugars, additives and in general ultra-processed foods that deserve attention and awareness are often hidden.
A good idea could be to experiment with the recipe at home, avoiding preparations and limiting the sugar content. Read also: Bubble Tea: the recipe for making the Tapioca refreshing tea at home
