Boba or bubble tea is a hugely popular beverage across the world, savoured for its unique combination of flavors and chewy tapioca pearls. While this trendy drink is delicious, experts say there is a lot more bubbling beneath the surface - especially when it comes to its impact on your health – particularly the kidneys.

Boba tea typically consists of milk, tea, sweeteners, flavourings, and those chewy tapioca pearls – which makes it a superhit drink. Tapioca is a starch extracted from the roots of cassava plants. These gummy pearls are made with water and sugar.

Along with those, the drink also includes brewed, or tea concentrated from black, jasmine, and green tea, the best sources of polyphenols antioxidants.

Teenagers and adolescents love drinking boba tea – for its hippie flavour and of course the fun pearls. However, according to experts, even though it is generally safe to consume, the tea should only be had in moderation. Since bubble tea is loaded with sugar and calories, drinking too often can increase your risk of diabetes and obesity.

A few other side effects would include:

Bubble tea extensively uses guar gum - an additive used in making pearls. According to experts, guar gum can cause constipation if in excess, as it expands when it comes into contact with water. While it can treat constipation, too much guar gum with insufficient water might have the opposite effect.

One of the main culprits in Boba tea is its high sugar content, excess intake of which is often found in both the tea base and additional sweeteners, which can wreak havoc on your health. Apart from weight gain, high sugar consumption is also linked to kidney problems. Your kidneys - responsible for filtering and removing waste from the bloodstream, face a formidable challenge when too much sugar is introduced.

Since bubble tea has a good amount of caffeine, drinking too often can lead to overdosing which causes major health issues – including irregular heartbeat, seizures, and hormonal imbalances.

Apart from that, it also leads to diarrhoea, insomnia, headache, increased thirst, and dizziness.

Even though the exact amount varies depending on the flavour and type of bubble tea, a 500ml serving usually contains around 300 calories and 38 grams of sugar. Drinking way too much bubble tea can lead to type-2 diabetes, according to doctors.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends limiting added sugars to under 10 per cent of your total daily calorie intake. If you are following a 2,000-calorie diet, a 500ml bubble tea would be about 76 per cent of your daily sugar allowance.

While it may be impossible to completely quit drinking bubble tea, doctors recommend enjoying it in moderation as key to minimizing its impact on your body systems, especially the kidneys. Opting for reduced sugar options, choosing herbal tea bases, and staying hydrated can all contribute to a healthier Boba tea experience.