Today is National Bubble Tea Day, and many bubble tea restaurants are offering a buy one, get one free promotion. Despite Taiwan being the origin of bubble tea, the United States was the first to honor this popular beverage, designating April 30th as National Bubble Tea Day annually.

        Bubble milk tea originated in Taiwan with the idea of serving milk tea cold. They decided to combine Assam tea, milk, sugar, and fenyuan, or tapioca pearls, for an improved texture. This drink has become a global phenomenon, extending far beyond Taiwan.

        In April 2014, the Foundation for Consumers conducted a random test on the sweetness levels of 15 milk tea brands. The findings revealed that even the mildly sweetened milk tea from each brand contained between 2.5 and 8 teaspoons of sugar, surpassing the recommended daily intake of 6 teaspoons. Therefore, bubble milk tea may not be an ideal beverage for individuals needing to limit their sugar consumption, even when ordered with less sugar.

Written, translated, by: Ratchanok T.

Illustrated by: มูลนิธิเพื่อผู้บริโภค