The Nutritional Value Of Pearl Milk Tea

Pearl milk tea is a Taiwanese drink that is made from tea, milk and flavoring syrup. It is sometimes also referred to as bubble tea due to the "bubbles," or pearls, of tapioca it contains. If you're dieting, pearl milk tea is not an ideal choice, as it is high in calories and carbohydrates. Note that different restaurants may have different recipes that will lead to variances in the nutritional characteristics of a pearl milk tea drink.

Calories

Pearl milk tea is calorie-dense, meaning that even small servings provide a lot of calories. A 16 oz. serving of pearl milk tea contains 318 calories, which comprises 18 percent of the daily recommended intake of 2,000. This is higher in calories than a 16 oz. serving of soda, which would provide 200 calories. If you switched from drinking 16 oz. of pearl milk tea to 16 oz. of regular soda each day, you'd actually save 1,120 calories weekly -- enough to lose nearly 1/4 lb.

Fat

Pearl milk tea does not contain any fat, which is beneficial because it keeps the calorie count lower. However, fat does provide feelings of fullness, so you may find that despite the high calorie content, pearl milk tea is not filling. Fat also provides energy for endurance activities and aids in the absorption of vitamins and healthy growth and brain function.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates provide the majority of the calories in pearl milk tea. A 16 oz. serving of pearl milk tea provides 56 g of carbohydrates, with 36 g of sugar. Too much sugar can be detrimental for your health because sugar promotes tooth decay. Additionally, research from the August 2004 edition of "The Journal of the American Medical Association" found that diets rich in high-sugar drinks promoted an increased risk of diabetes and weight gain.

Fiber

Pearl milk tea doesn't provide any dietary fiber. Dietary fiber provides satiety, so it can help prevent you from overeating. Dietary fiber also helps stabilize your blood sugar levels and can improve your cholesterol levels and keep your digestive tract healthy.

Protein

Pearl milk tea provides just 2 g of protein, which is just 1/4 of the amount in 8 oz. of milk. Your body needs protein to build and maintain your essential tissues, such as muscle and skin.