Boba milk tea is a drink that combines flavored tea, milk and tapioca pearls. Originating in Taiwan in the 1980s, boba tea shops can now be found on every corner of Taiwan and have continued to grow in popularity in the United States. Unfortunately, the round, chewy pearls at the bottom of the cup have been the source of heated debate and controversy, with regard to nutritional value and food safety. Can this drink we’ve grown to love really be harmful to the body?
The Nutritional Value of Boba
At first glance, tapioca pearls seem like a low-calorie option, at only 100 calories per serving. However, once you add the milk tea (a 16-ounce is an estimated 276 calories) into the equation, the boba milk tea calorie count crawls into the “Yikes!” category at approximately 375 calories per 16-ounce serving.
Boba milk tea also contains a concerning amount of sugar, at 36 grams of sugar for a 16 ounce serving. The high levels of sugar in boba milk tea can cause weight gain because the added sugars contribute no nutrients but many calories. American Heart Association recommends 25 grams of sugar per day for women and 37 grams for men. Thus, you can meet or exceed the daily sugar needed for your diet in just one boba milk tea. Tapioca pearls are also a source of carbohydrates, and indulging in foods high in carbohydrates can also lead to weight gain.
Boba is a popular drink, but may come with health risks.
Image Source: Envision
Black Pearls of Cancer?
German researchers at the University Hospital of Aachen found that tapioca pearls contained polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs. Polychlorinated biphenyl is a man-made organic chemical that was banned in the United States in 1979, and it was found to be linked to cancer and problems in the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, and endocrine system.
In response to studies that claimed to reveal carcinogenic traces in boba, the CEO of the leading manufacturer of boba drink ingredients, Wang Chung-Feng, defended the safety and quality of his products. Since the outrage, the German researchers have removed their study from the internet. The United States Food and Drug Administration keeps close watch on all food sold in the US, so your minds can be put at ease. For example, they posted a recall on boba in 2012 when the label ingredients didn’t display it contained milk.
Should I Still Drink Boba Milk Tea?
Some recipes for boba milk tea can include fresh fruit, which makes this drink a bit more nutritious for the more health conscious, but boba shouldn’t be a part of your everyday diet. As with most food products, boba milk tea should be consumed in moderation. Let yourself splurge on a high calorie drink every once in a while, but just don’t get carried away!
Featured Image Source: Alcuin Lai
