Did you know that boba milk tea is more than a beverage? It is a whole subculture! Boba tea has evolved tremendously over the years. But the original drink is made of tea, milk, sweetener, and ice - a combination that can increase the boba calories pretty quickly. 

Most of the boba calories come from sugar, so there is only a small amount of nutrition that bubble tea can offer. The beverage contains mostly sugar, calories, carbohydrate, and a small amount of fat. However, it also provides a bit of calcium. 

So what is the exact amount of calories in the boba milk tea? Can it make you gain weight? Is boba tea even healthy? 

We know you have probably asked these questions numerous times. If not, maybe your friends have brought it up in a conversation. Either way, there is always someone asking the number of boba calories. 

The short answer is this: the boba tea calories are not as many as you would think. But you want more than just a straightforward answer. So let's break it down further. 

The Tea 

Before we break down the number of calories in the bubble tea, we need to understand what exactly is in it. Generally, the boba milk tea comprises four parts: the tea, the milk, the sweetener, and the tapioca pearls. In this section, we will consider tea. 

Any excellent bubble tea will have some tea types. You can use the tea bags bought from the store or the more elegant and organic tea leaves. Regardless of how you steep the tea, the important thing is that the whole boba milk tea experience comes from the tea base. 

Tea plays a vital role (if not the most relevant) when preparing boba tea. 

The Milk 

The milk adds to the experience when making the bubble tea. It has the same significance as tea. The milk used in the boba milk tea gives you a smooth and silky texture when sipping the milk tea deliciously. 

Search for the boba tea shop that holds itself in high esteem in preparing delicious boba milk teal. We promise you will have the best day of your life! 

Sometimes it can be challenging to find these shops to guarantee a good time sipping the milk tea. Most tea shops around prefer to take the shortcut, taking away the beverage's artistic experience. 

The majority of the boba tea shops prepare bubble tea using a powder mix. Do not get us wrong. We understand why these shops use powder. It is cost-effective and faster to make when you have many orders waiting for you. Regardless, the powdered version cannot compare to the freshness of using the actual ingredients. 

The Sweetener

Aside from the two necessary ingredients used in making bubble tea, we also have the sweetener. Usually, most boba tea shops use different syrups to give you the sweet taste you love, such as mango bubble tea or strawberry milk tea. 

Some shops, however, use condensed milk instead of regular syrup. You get the best of both worlds when you use condensed milk: the sweetness and the creamy texture. 

Here is a good tip. 

When you order boba milk tea at your favorite boba shop, ask them to make the sugar content 50-75%. That is if you love sugary drinks. Boba drinks tend to be sweeter. If you want the bitter taste of authentic tea, you can ask for a small percentage of sugar in your bubble tea. 

The Tapioca 

Lastly, let's talk about the chewy version of bubble tea. If you are not careful with the boba milk tea with pearls, you can have the worst experience. The chew should take between 8-15 bites to finish for good tapioca pearls. 

If the chew takes less than eight times, the boba may be too starchy and can break up quickly. If you have ever chewed leftover rice, you will get the idea. However, if it takes more than 15 times to chew, it will feel like chewing gum. 

The Amount Of Boba Calories In Your Beverage 

As stated earlier, sugar adds calories to your bubble tea. However, the specific amount differs from how much you love your sugar intake. But generally, a 16-ounce serving of bubble tea holds from 200 to 450 calories.

Most of the calories come from added sugar. But it leaves something to be desired when it comes to the boba milk tea nutrition. According to research by the USDA FoodData Central, a 16-ounce serving of bubble milk tea contains:

• 56 grams of carbohydrate

• 40 grams of sugar 

• 500 milligrams of calcium

• Three grams of fat 

 The Food Science and Nutrition March 2016 report shows that it is classified as a sugar-sweetened beverage or SSB because bubble tea contains lots of sugar. It falls into the same group as soda. 

Now, let's break down the boba calories according to the four parts of the boba milk tea. 

How Many Boba Calories Are In The Tea? 

The majority of teas, regardless of the type, hardly contain any calories. A homemade tea contains less than five calories at most. So you do not have to worry whether the tea bag or tea leaves contains any calories. 

What Are the Boba Calories In The Milk? 

Typically, an eight-ounce cup of boba tea has a small portion of milk. That means the number of calories will not be much. You will have about 50-80 calories of milk or dairy in a cup of boba milk tea. The type of milk you use will determine the level of the calories, that is, whether it falls in the lower or upper range. 

Do Sweeteners have Lots of Calories? 

This is where it gets tricky. 

Most boba tea shops often use regular syrups or flavored syrups. As you already know, syrups contain mostly sugar and water. And one ounce of regular syrup contains about 30-50 calories. You can have about 100-130 calories for an ounce with condensed milk. 

Due to milk concentration, a small amount can have a considerable amount of calories. However, just like anything, you need to balance them. 

How Many Calories Do Tapioca Pearls? 

Tapioca pearls come from cassava starch, which is full of carbohydrates. You can have about 100-135 calories in a normal-sized boba milk tea in terms of calories. Usually, boba tea shops scoop ¼ cup of tapioca pearls. And that contains the calories stated above. 

Conclusion 

With all that said, nothing stops you from enjoying your favorite bubble tea. However, you have to be wary of the amount of sugar you consume. The essential ingredients for the boba milk tea can be healthy. But the boba calories can increase when you drown it with too much artificial flavor, sweetener, or processed ingredients. Consuming high sugar content can increase type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and even cancer. We recommend that you balance the sugar content. However, every once in a while, feel free to take higher calories. At least, your taste buds will not regret it! Now that you are done reading the article, do you think it is bad to take bubble milk tea? We do not think so. Just remember: moderation is key. If you are not taking the beverage five times a day, you have nothing to worry about.