Unique Taste The sweet taste of the tea paired with the chewy tapioca balls make up the unique element that boba provides. Drinks like iced coffee or juice have the same constant texture, but with boba, the pearls offer a sort of “break” from the same boring consistency.
Bubble tea is served in see-through cups with a fat straw so that - as you sip - the tapioca balls (also known as “pearls” or “boba”) come shooting up and can be chewed as you swallow down the delicious liquid.
So what exactly is it made of? Boba pearls are made of tapioca starch that comes from the cassava root, so compassionate customers can rest easy knowing that gelatin is not used in the making of these tiny balls of deliciousness.
Bubble tea balls are easily digestible for most people
Since tapioca comes from the starch-based cassava root, it's mainly filled with carbohydrates, according to Healthline. Starches like cassava function similarly to fiber in the body, and healthy people can digest them with no problems, Dr. de Latour said.
The tea became known as boba because the term is slang for breasts in Chinese (a reference the spherical shape of the tapioca balls).
What is “The Dirty Boba” Dirty Boba is a “signature drink created first when the boba are coated and cooked in brown sugar. The drink can be filled with a choice of milk or fresh teas. Finally, the dirty boba is topped with a milk cheese foam and a caramelized creme brulee topping.”
Unfortunately, boba itself provides very few health benefits, though its calories and carbohydrates can provide you with a boost in energy. In most cases, boba tea contains high levels of sugar, which is linked to long-term health conditions like diabetes and obesity.
Due to the tapioca ingredient, it means the "pearls" or "bubbles" don't dissolve quickly when expanded to their fullest. Hence, if you eat them without chewing, it can be hazardous.
The gelatinous tapioca pearls found in boba tea may not deliver impressive results in terms of nutrients, flavor, and vitamin on their own, but they are not completely useless. Tapioca originates from the starch of cassava roots. Tapioca aids digestion by functioning like fiber.
The popping Boba is very nutritious. This is because they contain both calories and carbohydrates in them. And the above add nutrients to the body once taken in.
As mentioned previously – white, Tapioca pearls are made from either starch, caramel or chamomile extract. However, the more popular Tapioca pearls, which are black are made from starch, sweet potato and/or brown sugar.
The tapioca pearls need to be cooked before they can be used, and they need to be cooled down so that they are ready to be put into the tea. This process takes time and labor. The pearls can't sit out for long after they are cooked or they will begin to harden.
Regular boba has a slightly sweet, chewy texture and a neutral taste. Some people enjoy the chewy texture and find it to be a fun addition to the drink, while others may find it unappealing.
Do You Chew Or Swallow Boba? You should always chew your boba pearls when drinking your bubble tea. Chewing your boba pearls is the best way to help your body digest them and unlock the delicious flavors of the boba pearls. Swallowing too many boba pearls whole may cause an upset stomach.
Tapioca is poisonous when raw, but perfectly safe to eat and very nutritious when fully cooked or processed.
The texture should be chewy, but slightly al dente. You want to remove the boba from the pot before it gets too soft and begins to degrade. The boba will also continue to cook slightly after removing them from the water, too, so keep that in mind.
"One to two cups a day should be fine, but you shouldn't consume anything in excess," advised Dr. Kushnir. "If you're drinking five or six cups a day, and you're noticing a change in your bowels, it could be a sign that you need to cut back or drink more water."
Drinking 2 cups of bubble tea/boba a week is unlikely to cause harm, but it's important to moderate sugar intake and consider the calorie content of the drink.
Like regular tea, boba tea contains caffeine, so you've probably wondered whether or not it's safe to drink when you're pregnant. Boba tea is safe for pregnant women provided it is made with pasteurized milk and heated or cooked toppings/additives.
The short answer is yes. Bubble tea is safe for consumption if enjoyed in moderation, so an occasional cup is fine for kids and teens.
Warning against Boba Tea
In August, Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment cautioned that tapioca pearls “may enter into the respiratory system” of a child drinker under the age of five when sucked into the mouth with a straw.
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.