They’ve become as common on British high streets as coffee shops – bubble tea outlets offering colourful, Instagram-worthy drinks in endless flavour combinations. The Taiwanese beverage, a mix of black tea, milk, sugar, and chewy tapioca pearls, has captured global imaginations since its 1980s origins. But recent findings suggest this beloved treat may deserve closer scrutiny.

A Consumer Reports investigation in the US found high lead levels in some bubble tea products, echoing earlier concerns about cassava-based foods. The pearls – those signature “bubbles” – are made from cassava starch, and the root readily absorbs lead and other heavy metals from contaminated soil. (No UK testing has been released.)

Contamination isn’t the only worry. Tapioca pearls’ starchy composition can slow dig

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