Lately, many beverage franchises offer milk tea as their mainstay menu. Yes, the combination of bitter tea, the sweetness of milk, and the thickness of boba is indeed very attractive. Not only in Indonesia, milk tea or bubble tea is also really popular in other countries. Some people believe that drinking milk tea is good for your body. However, is that true?

Basically, if consumed separately, tea and milk can both provide health benefits for the body. As we all know, tea, especially green tea and black tea are rich in flavonoids, a type of antioxidant that can help fight cell damage caused by free radicals. Studies also showed that the two types of tea were associated with low blood pressure, anti-cancer properties, and low bad cholesterol.

Just like tea, milk also contains nutrients that are good for the body. Milk is rich in protein, calcium, and potassium which play an important role in ensuring optimal growth, maintaining body composition, and maintaining bone health. Seeing that the two types of drinks can provide health benefits, most people think that mixing the two can provide even better benefits. Unfortunately, this assumption is not necessarily true.

The results of studies show that the protein contained in milk can interfere with the absorption process and activity of antioxidant present in tea. The researchers argue that casein, a protein in milk, can bind flavonoids in tea and affect their performance. However, other studies show that the long process of brewing tea can lead to better absorption of antioxidants, regardless of the addition of milk. Due to these conflicting results, further research is needed to better understand the benefits or disadvantages of this phenomenal drink.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Google Search Images

Source(s):

• Healthline - What Are the Benefits of Drinking Tea with Milk? (2019). https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/the-benefits-of-tea-with-milk, January 2, 2020.