More health trouble than bubble in bubble tea

Bubble tea is all the rage—but there could be health troubles in the bubbles.

The Taiwanese beverage, which blends black tea, milk, sugar, and chewy tapioca pearls, contains high levels of lead.  The pearls may also create digestive problems. Because they are dense and starchy, the pearls can slow the rate at which the stomach empties, a condition known as gastroparesis, especially if you eat a lot of them.

This, in turn, could lead to nausea, vomiting or abdominal pains, say researchers at Lancaster University.

The drink is often loaded with sugar—a typical serving contains up to 50g of sugar, while a can of Coca-Cola contains around 35g—and this increases the risk of dental cavities, obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease, and there are even reports linking frequent consumption to kidney stones and poorer mental health.  One woman had more than 300 kidney stones after making bubble tea her preferred drink, even over water.

As with anything, the poison is in the dose.  An occasional bubble tea won’t do you much harm, but it is important to limit your drinking, the researchers warn.

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