In a nutshell, the Keto, (or Ketogenic) diet is a very low carbohydrate and high fat diet. The fat replaces carbs to help the body burn fat for energy. There are foods that you can eat on the keto diet that you wouldn’t eat on a conventional diet.
On the other hand, there are foods you must avoid on keto that are acceptable on some diets. One of those is the tasty beverage, milk tea. You cannot have milk tea on the keto diet.
Milk tea, (also known as bubble or boboa tea) is made up of black tea, cow’s milk, and tapioca balls. While black tea on its own is perfectly acceptable to have on keto, the milk and tapioca are not.
As stated, the keto diet is extremely low carb and very high fat. The idea is to send your body into a state called ketosis. This is where the body burns fat for energy rather than glucose.
So, when you’re on the ketogenic diet, if you consume starchy foods or foods containing glucose, your body will be thrown out of its state of ketosis. This will inhibit your ability to lose weight.
Unfortunately, the 2 main ingredients in milk tea contain glucose and starch. Cow’s milk contains lactose, which contains glucose, a sugar found in starches.
If you think low fat or non-fat milk is better, think again. From a keto standpoint, it’s worse. Milk of any fat percentage is a big no on keto.
Related: Our Top Vegan Milk Alternatives
The other ingredient in milk tea are tapioca pearls (or balls). The pearls, also called boboa, are made from the starch of the cassava root. So, right off the bat, this is a huge NO on the ketogenic diet.
But we aren’t done yet. The coloring used to make the pearls attractive adds more sugar to the mix. The pearls are then soaked in a sugary syrup to make them chewy and sweet. All of these things are a recipe for a disastrous diet.
What Beverages Can You Drink On Keto?
There is a lot to be said about the keto diet. Not only can it help you burn fat and lose weight quickly, it is also said to have other benefits such as lowering blood pressure and improving brain functioning.
But it is not without its limitations. Just like you cannot have milk tea on the keto diet, other beverages are off limits too. However, we’ll stay on the positive track and give you some information on the drinks you can have on this diet.
1. Black, White, and Herbal Tea
While just about any tea is acceptable to drink on the keto diet, these teas are especially great because they have a robust natural flavor that doesn’t need any added milk or sugar. You can have them hot or iced.
2. Coffee
Coffee is only a few calories per cup and can also help give your metabolism a jump. If you want, you can add unsweetened almond or other nut milk to the beverage.
3. Diet Soda
While there are other reasons not to drink it, doing the keto diet is not one of them. Since there is no sugar, there are no carbs, so an occasional diet soda is fine for keto.
4. Seltzer/Club Soda
As long as there are no artificial flavors added(that could mean sugar), these carbonated drinks are keto-friendly. You can also add in some fresh lemon, lime, or raspberries, which are good for keto as well.
5. Vegetable Juice
Avoid the store bought and make your own. Celery, leafy greens, and cucumber are among some of the vegetables you can eat on keto. So why not make a refreshing drink from them as well?
6. Cow’s Milk Alternatives
Feel free to have a nice cold glass of almond, coconut, or other nut-based milk product. You can also use them in your drinks and cereal.
Can You Make A Keto Friendly Version Of Milk Tea?
We scoured the internet to find the answer, and are happy to report that you can, in fact, make a DIY keto version of milk tea. With just a few simple ingredients like black tea, unflavored gelatin, sugar-free honey, and avacado oil, you can have the look, feel, and taste of your favorite bubble tea. Check out the details here.
