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Bubble tea's 'slightly sweet' can still be high in sugar, warns nutritionist | Health Net | Liberty Times Net

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Many consumers believe ordering "slightly sweet" (micro-sugar) bubble tea reduces sugar intake, but a nutritionist warns it can still be very high in sugar.
  • "Slightly sweet" often only accounts for added sugar, not the "hidden sugar" in ingredients like fruit or toppings, leading to unexpectedly high sugar levels.
  • Nutritionist Wang Yu-ching suggests healthier alternatives like pure tea or fresh milk tea, replacing high-sugar toppings with low-calorie options like grass jelly or ai-yu jelly, and using unsweetened tea with fruit.

Consumers often opt for "slightly sweet" (micro-sugar) bubble tea in the summer, believing it's a healthier choice that satisfies cravings without excessive sugar. However, nutritionist Wang Yu-ching warns that this choice can be a "sugar trap," as the "slightly sweet" level may still lead to dangerously high sugar intake.

If you order the wrong item, the sugar content of 'slightly sweet' can still make your levels skyrocket!

— Wang Yu-chingThe nutritionist warns about the deceptive nature of 'slightly sweet' bubble tea orders.

Wang explains that the sugar content indicated by shops typically only includes added sugars. It often fails to account for "hidden sugars" present in the drink's base ingredients or "soul toppings." This oversight means a seemingly moderate order can result in consuming a "super giant sugar" amount.

Many people think they can drink safely by just ordering 'slightly sweet,' but they overlook that the sugar levels shops display usually only calculate the added sugar, not the 'hidden sugar' in the item itself or the 'soul toppings'!

— Wang Yu-chingWang explains why 'slightly sweet' orders can still be high in sugar.

Specific examples highlight this issue: sour tea drinks may have double the usual sugar to mask acidity, toppings like pearls or coconut jelly are often pre-sweetened, and milk teas made with creamer can be high in fat and sugar even at the "slightly sweet" level. These hidden calories contribute to fat accumulation.

To mask the acidity, 'slightly sweet' sour tea drinks have double the usual amount of sugar.

— Wang Yu-chingWang highlights how sugar is used to balance flavors in certain bubble tea types.

To combat excessive sugar intake, Wang offers three recommendations. First, she suggests switching to unsweetened pure teas or fresh milk teas, adding fresh milk for flavor without added sugar. Second, she advises replacing traditional toppings with lower-calorie options such as ai-yu jelly, konjac jelly, or grass jelly for satiety. Finally, she recommends pairing unsweetened tea with a moderate amount of fresh fruit as a natural sweetener, replacing refined sugars or high-fructose corn syrup.

Toppings like pearls and coconut jelly are pre-sweetened; ordering them even with unsweetened tea can still exceed sugar limits.

— Wang Yu-chingWang points out that toppings themselves contribute significant sugar.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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