The milk tea craze has taken over the Philippines and it shows no signs of dying out any time soon! The number of milk tea fans continuously grows as more shops are opening their doors to lines of people waiting to have a cup of this sweet drink.
In fact, it’s no longer surprising to see someone drinking this beverage on a weekly basis. But bad news to all the milk tea lovers out there! It seems that you might have to cut back on your guilty pleasure as it can bring some potential negative effects to your health.
Milk tea, also known as bubble tea or boba tea, is originally from Taiwan. This tea and milk-based drink can be customized with a number of additional toppings, such as tapioca pearls, grass jelly, fruits and puddings. This milky goodness may be good for your tummy but not for your body.
The Hidden Sugars
Milk tea actually contains much more sugar than you think, not to mention the additives and flavored syrups found in it.
In fact, some studies say that some of the sweetest varieties of this drink can contain more sugar than certain soft drinks.
In an experiment conducted by Channel NewsAsia, researchers found out that a 500mL cup of brown sugar milk tea can contain about 92g of sugar. That is nearly three times the amount of sugar contained in a regular 12 ounce can of coke!
The extremely high sugar content found in this drink decreases its overall nutritional value.
Tapioca Pearls
The small chewy pearls that are similar to gummy candies are loved by almost every milk tea fan around the world. Yet, as much as you love them, they can be as bad for your health. The pearls are made from white starchy flour that has a sweet taste. Tapioca flour contains almost all starch which means that it is full of carbs. These are boiled and submerged into a bath of sugar syrup, adding more sweetness to the sweet milk tea. Consuming the sugary pearls bring no good to your body.
Milk with Tea? Not the best idea
Tea is good for the heart, while milk is good for the bones. But these two together? It isn’t the finest combination.
Adding milk to tea can decrease the antioxidants found in tea, as observed in a 2013 European Journal of Nutrition Study compared to the levels of catechin, an antioxidant found in green tea, when drank itself or with milk.
The polyphenols, micronutrients from plant-based foods in tea, can incorporate with the proteins found in milk. As a result, the health benefits of tea decreases.
Healthy Alternatives
It’s true that not many of us can give up on this guilty pleasure, but it would be best to limit our consumption and not make it a regular part of your diet.
The next time you get your milk tea fix, try skipping the flavored syrups and replace it with some fruits instead.
Adjusting the sugar levels and removing the tapioca pearls can also be helpful in reducing the total calories and sugar content.
We all know that it’s a challenge to follow nutritional advice when it comes to food and health. If that cup of milk tea brings you joy, go ahead and drink up. Don’t stress out trying to eliminate it out completely, just try your best enjoy this drink in moderation.
Story by Eunso Im and Jasmine Ngo
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