The Hidden Dangers Behind Bubble Tea

Chewy tapioca pearls, a quick swirl of ice, flavor and sweet, milky tea. That first satisfying sip could be amazing, but did you know that beneath an innocent looking cup of bubble tea, a silent killer lies? Why are teenagers in China suddenly collapsing after drinking bubble tea, and what makes them?

In May of 2020, an 18 year old Chinese teen was constantly craving the delicious, sweet drink. The weather was scorching for an entire month, so she kept downing the drink every day, maybe even two a day. The girl increasingly felt more thirsty and continued to drink bubble tea. She soon felt nauseous and uncomfortable.

Until one day, she collapsed in her home. Her unconscious body was found by her anxious family and was rushed to the hospital. When the medical staff measured her blood sugar, they found it dangerously high, 25 times more than it should be due to the excessive consumption of bubble tea. The teenager soon slipped into a coma from her high blood sugar levels.

Another case, a 16 year old boy in Hangzhou was going through a similar predicament. Xiao Ying, the teen, was hurried into the ER with a high fever. And his blood sugar measured 124 millimoles per liter, 20 times above average. The teenager had a daily habit of drinking bubble tea and felt increasingly thirsty despite drinking excessive amounts of water. By the time he fell unconscious, the situation was dire. 

Both teenagers were diagnosed with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious condition where there’s not enough insulin in your body being produced in the body to lower down the extreme amounts of sugar in the blood.

In 2019, a 19 year old college student in China, was out with her brother to meet up and hang out with their friends. On the way, they stopped by to get some bubble tea. They were both joking and making conversation on their way when suddenly, three tapioca pearls went down the wrong pipe, blocking the girl’s trachea. Choking, the girl collapsed in front of her friend’s house in front of her stunned brother and horrified friend, they both called medical help but by the time they arrived in the hospital, it was far too late.

Despite these cases, bubble tea isn’t necessarily a vile drink no one should consume. It all comes down to moderation. As long as you’re not excessively consuming the drink and make sure to chew before swallowing, you can enjoy your refreshing bubble tea without a concern.