M’sian Doctor Reveals How Unhealthy Bubble Tea Is & Advises Netizens To Avoid It

If three cups of bubble tea a day doesn’t sum up my extremely unhealthy and expensive obsession with bubble tea, I don’t know what will.

I drink bubble tea like how others drink water. And I know some of you do too 😉

Here’s a video about bubble tea we’ve done because we’re free like that:

Malaysian doctor, Dr K.K Tan has come forth with facts that might change your mind afterwards.

By now, you might have seen the countless articles about how bad bubble teas are for your health (like this one that tells you to avoid brown sugar bubble teas) but perhaps hearing from a doctor would change your perspective after.

It All Starts With The Tapioca Pearls 

According to the post on Dr Tan’s Facebook page, the tapioca pearls are loaded with carbs- and they are not the healthy kind.

That, we know. But how unhealthy?

Cooking tapioca pearls only makes it worse. They are typically fried in hot water and more sugar is added after. After three hours, they have nearly 160 calories per 1/4 serving.

Extra Syrup, Extra Calories 

With some of the syrups containing processed ingredients, the average bubble tea can easily reach 300 to 400 calories per average size cup.

Your breakfast is 300 to 400 calories, in case you’re wondering how much 300 to 400 calories look like in food.

Sugar, Sugar And More Sugar 

Dr Tan is not the first to speak about the issue. As mentioned earlier, Mount Alvernia Hospital has also published an infographic on how much sugar there is in bubble tea.

Both Dr Tan and the hospital has reported that brown sugar milk tea with pearls is the worst choice, as it contains 18.5 teaspoons of sugar. 

The second most unhealthy option was winter melon tea, at 16 teaspoons of sugar.

To give you an idea of how much sugar that is, Dr Tan stated that an adult’s daily recommended sugar intake is 8 to 11 teaspoons whereas a child’s recommended intake is 5.

Still not scared yet?

Read on.

Cancer-causing Chemicals In Pearls

In 2012, a group of researchers from the University Hospital Aachen found traces of PCBs in tapioca ball samples.

These cancer-causing chemicals have also been shown to have other adverse health effects on the immune, reproductive, nervous and endocrine systems.

In simpler words, they are really bad for your health.

Drink “Healthier” Bubble Tea  

Still can’t avoid bubble tea because bubble tea is life?

Here are some tips from Dr Tan to make your bubble tea a little less… toxic.

1. Medium over large! Choose a smaller cup size.
2. Pick a “plain” tea, like green/red/oolong/black tea. In fact, it has been acknowledged that green and black tea are helpful in reducing the risk of diseases like diabetes, arthritis and cancer.
3. “Auntie, 50% sugar please!” Or you can choose to go lower. Go for 0% sugar if you can, but I know you can’t
4. Fresh, low-fat or skimmed milk instead of non-dairy creamers.
5. Say NO to toppings (easily said than done)

After finishing this article, my editor asked me if I was going to stop drinking bubble tea.

My answer is…

Editor: Damn, then what’s the use of this article?

Erm, to get some clicks?