Boba tea is made of tea, milk, water, sugar and tapioca pearls. Iced sweet milky tea is given a good cocktail-style shake, after which tapioca pearls are added. Typical versions use black, green or oolong tea, although recently more flavors and types have appeared.

Boba pearls, also known as tapioca pearls, are primarily made from tapioca starch, which is derived from the cassava root. The basic ingredients for making boba pearls include tapioca starch, water, and usually a sweetener like brown sugar, which is added for coloring and a subtle sweetness.

A Quick Review. Boba tea is generally safe to drink, but you'll want to enjoy it in moderation. The beverage is usually high in sugar and calories and contains an additive that might lead to constipation. Drinking too much boba tea may increase your risk of diabetes and obesity.

Furthermore, the report's analysis showed that costs were highly correlated with supply chain, store, and headcount efficiency. Price movements in any of these factors, which can be impacted by economic and market conditions, are likely to result in higher bubble tea prices for consumers.