In this generation of millennials, who doesn’t crave Milk Tea? Hmmm… For sure most have tried taking a sip of at least once. Recently, Boba tea, commonly named “Milk Tea”, has become popular around Asia which was originally a native drink in Taiwan. Unconfined in Asia, it has now made its way to America. It is being patronized by different age groups from teenagers to young adults and oftentimes considered in tea cafes where people socialize with peers from work or school. Boba tea is a drink made by combining a mixture of tapioca pearls, milk and iced tea. Sounds cool right!? But, is it really that healthy to drink? Will it still be beneficially healthy when consumed daily?
Most commercially made Bubble tea or Boba tea contains added sugar and full cream milk. It may NOT be considered the healthiest beverage offered in the market but somehow it can offer health benefits which are noteworthy. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Bubble tea contains 120 calories, 149 grams of fat and 28.1 grams of carbohydrates for every 8 ounce serving. Boba tea is generally low in protein, which is an essential macronutrient in the body required for regulating muscle building, sleep, metabolic activity and the body’s energy supplies. And accordingly low in fiber, a thing in nutrition important in digestion and lowering cholesterol that helps prevent heart conditions.
It may appear of less importance but Boba tea is not at all disadvantageous. It does have some health benefits such as calcium, a mineral required by the body for healthy bones. An 8-ounce of Boba tea serving offers 250 milligrams of calcium. The tapioca pearls of Boba tea also contain many essential vitamins and minerals like iron, zinc, copper, selenium and manganese that are required by our body in small quantities however, important in helping protein synthesis, regular brain functions and more.
The most significant health risk from this drink is its high sugar content which varies across brands and cafes. The recommended daily added sugar intake should be no more than 10 percent of calories consumed while the Boba tea with tapioca and milk already contains 38 grams of sugar which is way higher than the recommended. This predisposes one to obesity, heart conditions and diabetes.
While Boba milk tea is delicious and fits the taste buds of Filipinos, we need to consider consuming it in moderation as we do not want it to put a toll on our overall health. Consuming a serving at least once a week together with proper dietary management and exercise for healthy individuals are highly advised. But for individuals having diabetes and/or any heart condition, make sure to watch over intake of milk teas. Take a safe sip everyone!
NO II Joanna Marie E. Baltazar
References:
- Boba Tea: Are there Health benefits?
https://www.webmd.com/diet/boba-tea-health-benefits##1
- What are the benefits of drinking tea with milk?
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/the-benefits-of-tea-with-milk