After a bake-less weekend, due to still not having a new oven, I ventured out to see what the Bubbleology craze on Instagram was all about. I was severely disappointed.
I opted for a white peach green tea, and Meghan (@MeghanReilly_x) went for the passion fruit. Whilst waiting for your order you just wait around the bar like in Starbucks, but unlike Starbucks there’s a short metal screen around this bubble magic they’re doing to your drink. Being as nosey as I am, I was looking over the screen watching the ‘bubbleologists’ scoop a powdery substance into a cup, top it up with a liquid, scoop some of these black balls in, some ice and seal the cup.
First question we had, what are these balls? The bubbleology website says that they’re tapioca balls. Some easy google research shows that there’s not much to them, simply small starch balls with virtually no flavour. The reviews of these tapioca pearls range from them containing cancer causing carcinogens to their awful texture. The issue I have with these tapioca balls (‘Boba’ as bubbleology like to call them) is that to give them a flavour after they are cooked, they are soaked in either fructose, honey or an alternate sweetener which takes their calorie content to up to 10 calories per pearl. Just having one of these drinks, including the tapioca pearls is 340 calories?!
If I’m in Westfield and I fancy 340 calories, I’m getting a pretzel. With all the Bubbleology drinks costing £3.45+, a pretzel would be both the cheaper and lower calorie option.
To top the unnecessarily expensive and calorific nature of this ‘drink’, it’s not even nice. I expected my white peach green tea to taste at least similar to the peach Lipton Ice Tea I drink, which it didn’t. It’s milky appearance, thin texture, peachy yet strong tea taste with these blubbery balls… it’s a disaster in a cup.
With the four bubbleology stands being located around central London, you’re never more than a stones throw away from something more nutritional and, most definitely, more delicious.
If in Westfield again and in need of a refreshing drink, I’ll be returning to my trusted Boost or Zumo!
you should try a white peach and mango cold fruit tea before passing the judgement and just so you know, westfield people don't really make a good one, try the Soho branch, you might get hooked up like we are.
Might just do that, thanks for the tip 🙂
Your facts about the nutrition are way off! And um….. cancer? really? Lets get real.
Also… there are six bubbleologys.. not four!
I didn't say they caused cancer at all actually, I just linked to other people's reviews that did. There were 4 when this was written over a year ago.