Background: Bubble tea, also known as boba or boba milk tea, has exploded in popularity in recent years, with the global boba market projected to reach 3.39 billion USD by the end of 2027. Originating in Taiwan, the drink typically consists of tea, milk/cream, and sugar accompanied by tapioca pearls. The bright colors and availability of sweet and fruity flavors especially appeal to children. However, the full range of concerns that this drink presents to children, including its sugar content, and the potential for the tapioca pearls to serve as a choking hazard has not been thoroughly explored. These issues are especially prevalent in westernized commercial versions of the drink. This study seeks to elucidate lesser-known dangers the drink presents to children. Methods: The top blog posts and articles on boba consumption were identified by a Google search of phrases related to boba consumption in children and adolescents (ex: “can kids drink boba,” “dangers of boba for kids”). Content in each article was categorized according to the types of risks associated with boba consumption mentioned (Table 1). Descriptive content analysis was conducted to identify common themes in the collected data. Results: Of blogs and articles discussing potential risks associated with bubble tea consumption (n=100), 66% (n=66) mentioned high sugar content and 73% (n=73) were concerned with excessive consumption of the drink. These posts link boba consumption to chronic diseases such as obesity, mentioned in 19% (n=19) of posts, and diabetes, mentioned in 21% (n=21) of posts, as well as poor oral health, mentioned in 4% (n=4) of posts.11% (n=11) mentioned high fat content, 37% (n=37) mentioned high-calorie content, and 22% (n=22) mentioned concerns with the presence of caffeine. 29% (n=29) mentioned the tapioca pearls serving as a choking hazard. 45% (n=45) mentioned the presence of chemicals such as preservatives or additional sweeteners and 45% (n=45) also indicated the potential for such chemicals to cause digestive issues. Conclusion: Our study indicates a high prevalence of parental concern regarding the safety and nutritional content of commercial boba. Primary concerns include excessive consumption of sugar/calories, chemical-induced digestive issues, and choking hazards. Therefore, parents should provide healthier boba options, and prevent young children from consuming tapioca pearls to mitigate the risk of choking. In addition, boba manufacturers should clearly label packaging to indicate the risk of choking for young children. The AAP recommends against excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks, with interventions primarily focusing on the consumption of sodas and juices. We encourage the AAP to consider investigating commercial boba as a burgeoning threat to adolescent health akin to soft drinks. Pediatricians should routinely counsel children and families to decrease sugary drink consumption.

Table 1.

Classification of Concerns Regarding Bubble Tea Consumption Found in Blogs and Articles.

Classification of Concerns Regarding Bubble Tea Consumption Found in Blogs and Articles.
Classification of Concerns Regarding Bubble Tea Consumption Found in Blogs and Articles.
Figure 1

Concerns Per Category Regarding Bubble Tea Consumption in Children.

This chart depicts the number of times each concern was mentioned in the blog posts and articles analyzed (n=100). In the top right corner, the nutritional information is listed for Bubble Tea purchased from the popular commercial chain, Kung Fu Tea. The top box lists the calorie information of standard toppings that can be added to the tea, with tapioca pearls, listed as “bubbles,” containing 199 calories. The middle box lists the calorie information of premium toppings. The bottom box lists the calories associated with the sugar level chosen for the bubble tea drink, ranging from 0% added sugar to 120% added sugar. To the left of these boxes is an example image of a bubble tea, containing the tapioca pearls at the top of the drink and the wide straw designed to drink the tea and tapioca pearls.

Figure 1

Concerns Per Category Regarding Bubble Tea Consumption in Children.

This chart depicts the number of times each concern was mentioned in the blog posts and articles analyzed (n=100). In the top right corner, the nutritional information is listed for Bubble Tea purchased from the popular commercial chain, Kung Fu Tea. The top box lists the calorie information of standard toppings that can be added to the tea, with tapioca pearls, listed as “bubbles,” containing 199 calories. The middle box lists the calorie information of premium toppings. The bottom box lists the calories associated with the sugar level chosen for the bubble tea drink, ranging from 0% added sugar to 120% added sugar. To the left of these boxes is an example image of a bubble tea, containing the tapioca pearls at the top of the drink and the wide straw designed to drink the tea and tapioca pearls.

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