While boba tea is a beloved beverage enjoyed by many, there are health concerns associated with its traditional preparation. Regular boba tea can be high in sugar, with some drinks containing as much as 50 grams of sugar per serving, which far exceeds recommended daily limits. Additionally, traditional boba pearls are primarily made from tapioca, which is calorie-dense and can lead to weight gain if consumed frequently. There’s also concern about artificial colors and flavorings that are often used in cheaper boba mixes, which can contribute to long-term health issues if consumed excessively. These health concerns have prompted many consumers to seek out healthier alternatives that do not compromise on taste or overall boba experience.
How to Makes Boba Healthier?
Traditional boba tea, with its sweet syrups and starchy tapioca pearls, can be a sugar-packed treat. Healthier alternatives focus on reducing sugar, using natural sweeteners, and incorporating fresh, wholesome ingredients. Options include:
• No Sugar Added: Many shops offer the option to customize the sweetness level, including using no sugar at all.
• Low-Calorie Sweeteners: Options like stevia or monk fruit provide sweetness without the calories.
• Dairy Alternatives: Using almond milk, oat milk, or soy milk reduces calories and caters to lactose-intolerant customers.
• Fresh Fruit: Instead of artificial flavors, many places use real fruit to enhance the health value and taste.
• Herbal and Green Teas: These tea bases offer antioxidants and a lower calorie count than their milky counterparts.
Where to Find “Healthier” Boba in Los Angeles
Many boba shops now offer somewhat healthier or “less evil” options. Following are some of the place you can find tea with real fresh fruits instead of flavored syrup:
1. Sunright Tea Studio
• Location: more than 1 location.
• Specialty: Sunright offers a customization option where you can choose your sugar level, including no sugar at all. They also offer organic milk and non-dairy alternatives to cater to health-conscious consumers.
• Website: Sunright Tea Studio
2. Zero Degrees
• Location: 9828 Garden Grove Blvd #108, Garden Grove, CA 92844
• Specialty: Known for their “Crystal Boba,” which is a healthier jelly-like alternative to traditional tapioca pearls, Zero Degrees also provides sugar level customization and natural fruit teas.
• Website: Zero Degrees
3. Boba Guys
• Location: 1670 Beverly Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026
• Specialty: Boba Guys is renowned for its high-quality ingredients and transparency. They offer house-made syrups, organic milk, and alternative milk options, and allow customers to customize the sugar level in their drinks.
• Website: Boba Guys
4. Miss Cheese Tea Cafe
Location: 238 S Arroyo Parkway #110, Pasadena, CA 91105
• Specialty: Miss Cheese Tea Cafe offer a wide range of healthier boba teas while they have a “No Syrup Real Fruit Tea” series with only real fruits and no additional sugar. They also have series of blended drinks that blend with real fruit like Mango Loves Coconut smoothie, or the yogurt smoothie – Mango Tornado that customers can request no sugar but just fruits.
• Website: Miss Cheese Tea Cafe
5. TeaBar Starry
• Location: 1107 S Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
• Specialty: TeaBar Starry provides a wide range of teas that can be made with minimal to no sugar. They focus on natural ingredients and offer several fresh fruit teas.
• Website: TeaBar Starry
6. Gong Cha
• Location: More than 1 location.
• Specialty: Gong Cha allows customers to fully customize their drink’s sugar levels, including the option for 0% sugar. They also offer herbal jelly and aloe vera as healthier topping alternatives.
• Website: Gong Cha
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