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🇰🇷 South Korea /Health & Science

South Korean cafes' tea drinks vary widely in caffeine, sugar, and fat content

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Tea-based beverages from major South Korean cafes show significant variations in caffeine, sugar, and saturated fat content.
  • Some products, like certain milk teas and matcha lattes, contain more caffeine than a standard Americano.
  • Consumers are advised to check nutritional information due to high sugar and saturated fat levels, which can contribute to excessive daily intake.

Consumers seeking a caffeine boost from popular tea-based drinks at South Korean cafes should be aware of significant nutritional disparities, with some beverages containing more caffeine than a typical Americano coffee.

A comparison of 12 different matcha, green tea lattes, and milk teas from six major cafe franchises revealed caffeine content ranging from 45mg to 172mg per serving. Notably, Starbucks' 'Classic Milk Tea' and Twosome Place's 'Royal Milk Tea' exceeded the caffeine levels found in a standard Americano (132mg). While these drinks may appeal to high-caffeine seekers, pregnant women could approach or exceed the recommended daily intake of 300mg with just two servings.

The caffeine content per cup of tea drink ranged from a minimum of 45mg to a maximum of 172mg, showing a difference of up to four times between products.

— Korea Consumer AgencyHighlighting the wide variation in caffeine levels among different tea beverages.

The study, conducted by the Korea Consumer Agency, also highlighted concerns regarding sugar and saturated fat content. Sugar levels in the tested beverages ranged from 26g to 55g per cup, representing 25% to 55% of the daily recommended intake. Ediya Coffee's 'Malcha Latte' had the highest sugar content at 55g.

Some products, such as Starbucks' 'Classic Milk Tea' (172mg) and Twosome Place's 'Royal Milk Tea' (148mg), had higher caffeine content than a regular Americano (132mg).

— Korea Consumer AgencyIdentifying specific drinks that exceed the caffeine content of a standard Americano.

Saturated fat levels were also considerable, ranging from 5g to 11.9g per cup, or 33% to 79% of the daily recommendation. Starbucks' 'Classic Milk Tea' again topped the list with 11.9g of saturated fat. The agency advised consumers to review nutritional information, especially when pairing these drinks with desserts like cake, to avoid excessive sugar consumption.

Furthermore, the agency noted inconsistencies in serving sizes even within the same brand and product, with volume differences ranging from 36ml to 119ml. While some variation is expected in freshly prepared beverages, the agency called for improved management to ensure consistent quality and quantity for consumers.

Tea drinks can have a difference in content volume of at least 36ml to a maximum of 119ml.

— Korea Consumer AgencyPointing out the variability in serving sizes for the same products across different stores.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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