The Silicon Review ^Asia

Holista CollTech Ltd (Holista) and SunFresh Fruit Hub Sdn Bhd (Fruit Hub), the two food and beverage giants of Malaysia have recently announced a research and development collaboration to produce 3 key healthy ingredients to develop a healthy Bubbly Tea, which is an increasingly popular drink in Malaysia. Bubble Tea started in Taiwan but it has now become popular in most parts of East and Southeast Asia.

Holista, food ingredients Specialist Company formed out of a merger between Holistic Biotech Sdn Bhd and Colltech Australia Ltd; and Fruit Hub, which processes and packages fruit juices and beverage ingredients recently said that the Bubble Tea sector is growing at a rapid pace. But a typical 500ml Bubble Tea drink contains at least 8.5 teaspoons of sugar and has a high-calorie rate.

So both the firms are now aiming at producing healthy versions of Bubble Tea. Both the firms said that the new healthy version of Bubble Tea will have 3 main healthy ingredients that do not alter the taste of the tea. All 3 ingredients will have a lower Glycemic Index (GI).

The three key ingredients include organically grown tapioca, sugar syrup which has low calories and Holista’s low-GI sugar caramel (brown sugar) which will retain the sweetness with lower calories. All 3 products will be tested by the Sydney University GI Research Service by the end of November 2019 before hitting local and international markets by the 1st quarter of 2020. This new tea will be launched in 2020.