Why are we so attracted to bubble tea?

Written by: Liew Yi Xuan (21-E1), Ng Teck Zhong (20-E5), Zenov Liu Fan (20-U1)

Designed by: Lay Kai En, Ashley (20-O1)

Introduction: A Brief History of Bubble Tea

Koi, Gongcha, Liho… I could go on and on. We all know the famous drink for its chewy boba and exciting variety, but how did it all come about? Invented in the late 1940s by mixologist Chang Fan Shu, what we know today as bubble tea used to be the popular “foam tea” in Taiwan, where it was air bubbles resulting from shaking the tea that gave the drink its distinct “bubbles”. It was only a few decades later during the 1980s that Taiwanese tea shops started adding “bubble” to their tea, producing the boba tea that we know and love today. 

The Recent Rise in Popularity of Bubble Tea

Bubble Tea first appeared in Singapore in 1992, with the first bubble tea store opening at Marina Square. However, the bubble burst in 2003 when competition between companies eager to contest in this rising market caused prices to soar. Despite the bust, the industry has seen a boom again in recent years with the entrance of Taiwanese brands like Koi in 2007 and Gongcha in 2009. Since then, many brands have managed to keep the competition alive with their many innovations and additions to the traditional bubble tea. This bubble tea craze extends beyond Singapore, where according to a recent study, the industry is expected to grow by almost $2 billion to $4.3 billion by 2027. However, as we become more and more consumed (pun intended) by our favourite bubble tea drink, are we guilty of tarnishing our health by the day with this mindless consumption?

Health Effects of Bubble Tea

With the rise of consumption of bubble tea in Singapore in recent years, there is no doubt that there are a significant number of health implications that the deadly but delicious drink entails. One of the more prominent ones is, to no surprise, the adverse effect bubble tea has on our physical body. Contrary to popular belief, it is found that some bubble teas can contain more sugar than some soft drinks. This can be exemplified by a 500ml cup of “brown sugar boba milk”, a scrumptious variant of the numerous types of bubble tea, which can contain more than the amount of sugar in a 320ml can of Coca-Cola. This is because the amount of sugar added is not just in the fresh milk but the pearls as well, which are enveloped in caramelised brown sugar syrup. This excessive amount of sugar poses an imminent health threat as constant consumption of drinks as such will result in chronic diseases such as diabetes, and constipation. 

Health risks of constipation may sound trivial to many if not most, but is in fact a detrimental cause for concern. In 2019, an article from The Straits Times revealed that a 14 year old Chinese girl was found to have around 100 tapioca pearls in her abdomen and suffered from constipation and abdominal pain for several days due to consumption of excessive bubble tea. Another notable incident was one of an 18 year old girl from Shanghai who fell into a diabetic coma for 5 days and was suffering from high blood sugar level and kidney damage. Despite these alarming stories about the effects of consuming too much bubble tea, many netizens at that point in time did not seem to care about this issue and even made comedic remarks about continuing to consume bubble tea. 

Even though bubble tea gives many of us satisfaction and serotonin rush due to its addictive nature (caused by high levels of sugar content), it is imperative for bubble tea fanatics to understand  the detrimental health impacts that are often not emphasised enough due to the lack of awareness.

So, How Should We Drink Bubble Tea?

Considering the health impacts, what should we do if we want to continue consuming our favourite cup of bubble tea? One possible solution is to cut down on the consumption of it, especially for those who routinely consume one cup per day. This will greatly help in cutting down our sugar intake over time, ensuring that we stay healthy in the long run. Another possible solution is to opt for healthier versions of it, and that can be very simply done by choosing a lower sugar the next time you are buying one (or simply go sugar free!). There are also other healthier options that you can consider too, such as Yomi’s Rice X Yogurt, which, as the name suggests, combines yogurt and bubble tea into one, ensuring that we can get our routine fix of the bubble tea while staying healthy.

Conclusion 

Yes, bubble tea is great — whether as a social food or a pick-me-up. However, with all things good, it must be consumed in moderation. While we do not have to cut this mouth-watering beverage from our lives, it is best that we make informed choices as consumers. Faced with fierce competition, many brands today engage in enticing marketing strategies — from collaborations with distribution companies like Shopee and Grabfood to furnishing their stores with decorated interiors. Being aware of this, we should think twice the next time we stop in our tracks to purchase a cup of bubble tea. Whether it is to drink in moderation or to switch to healthier alternatives, it will make a difference to our health, even if we cannot see it now. 

Bibliography 

The Business Times. (2019, June 1). Far from game over: From boom to bust to boom again, bubble tea is back in business. https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/brunch/far-from-game-over-from-boom-to-bust-to-boom-again-bubble-tea-is-back-in-business

Wong, M. H. (2020, April 30). The rise of bubble tea, one of Taiwan’s most beloved beverages. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/taiwan-bubble-tea-origins/index.html

S. (2019). 6 Facts About The History of Bubble Tea in Singapore. Trivia.Sg. https://trivia.sg/facts-history-bubble-tea-singapore/

Foo, K. (2019, June 7). Chinese girl suffers from constipation for 5 days due to bubble tea pearls. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/chinese-girl-suffers-from-constipation-for-5-days-due-to-bubble-tea-pearls

BUBBLE TEA FOOD NEWS Yomie’s Rice x Yogurt: Famous Yogurt Drink Stall Opens With 1-For-1 Drinks On 21 Dec 2019. (2019, December 19). Eatbook. https://eatbook.sg/yomies-yogurt-singapore/