Can You Actually Get Sick From Eating Too Many Bubble Tea Pearls?

Since gaining popularity in Asia during the 1980s and '90s, the ongoing bubble tea trend just keeps getting stronger. As the tea loaded with boba pearls gains widespread traction, its risks are also being investigated. In 2023, one TikTok user caused a stir when, in a since-deleted video, she claimed she ate an entire cup of bubble tea pearls and ended up in hospital the next day.

Despite this TikToker's misadventure, the pearls found in bubble tea are intended to be eaten. Boba pearls are made of tapioca, a starchy liquid harvested from the root of the cassava plant, which is a tuber similar to potatoes or yams. Cassava is commonly used as a starch in meals across South America, Africa, and the Caribbean. You may be familiar with creamy tapioca pudding studded with pearls, or perhaps you've tried Pão de Queijo Brazilian dinner rolls made with tapioca flour.

In a follow-up (also deleted) TikTok, the unfortunate bubble tea victim helpfully explained that she worked in a boba shop at the time and didn't want to see leftover pearls go to waste, so she took them home — and consumed them all. She learned her lesson but stressed that boba needs to be eaten in moderation. Indeed, while boba pearls are completely safe, their starchy content paired with a typically sugary tea could wreak havoc on your stomach if you overindulge.

If you've purchased one of the countless DIY bubble tea kits available online, and you're prepping your first homemade drink, just remember not to add too many pearls. As noted, boba pearls are just tapioca, which means they are also little starch bombs. Starches are a primary source of carbohydrates, which could cause trouble for eaters trying to stick to a keto diet or a diabetic-friendly regimen. Then factor in the flavored tea and other sweet add-ins, like jellies and fruit (although it's still unclear if you can ever eat too much fruit) and suddenly, you're drinking a cup full of sugar and crashing from it hours later. Consuming too much sugar can also lead to gas and bloating and can even exacerbate IBS symptoms in some people.

When consuming boba tea, always chew the pearls before swallowing. This may not be your instinct since you're using a straw to bring them into your mouth, but gulping the pearls whole makes them harder to digest, which can also cause gastrointestinal distress. Take your time when drinking bubble tea and enjoy the sweet tapioca flavors.