Bubble tea has taken the UK by storm, with this Taiwanese tea-based beverage, brimming with chewy tapioca balls, milk, and flavouring, becoming a ubiquitous presence on the high street.

Since originating in Taiwan during the early 1980s, bubble tea’s popularity has skyrocketed to the point that even Costa Coffee is serving up the trendy drink. So, it comes as no surprise then that Aldi has decided to get in on the action, rolling out new fruity bubble tea flavours for their customers to enjoy. The new additions from The Juice Company were spotted on Aldi’s shelves by the keen-eyed social media account NewFoodsUK, which promptly reported its discovery to followers on Facebook.

Among the ready-to-drink offerings found were an exotic passion fruit and mango blend along with a lush wild berry and blueberry concoction.

Despite many enthusiasts liking the post and sharing their excitement by tagging friends in the hundreds, some Aldi shoppers were taken aback by two particular details: the drinks’ sugar content and their price tag.

A glance at the packaging revealed that each drink was laden with 40.1g of sugar – close to half (45%) of the recommended daily sugar intake.

Commenters on the Facebook post didn’t hesitate to express their astonishment, with one user exclaiming: “40g of sugar,” punctuated with a shocked emoji, while many others signalled their agreement with likes.

Another user replied more decisively, saying: “Think I will pass.

“Ridiculously high in sugar,” wrote another person, echoing the concerns of those disappointed by the sugar levels, while another commenter sarcastically added: “Not a lot of sugar in them at all..”

Many also say that the drinks are priced at £3.99, which has sparked a debated amongst customers.

One shopper complained: “£3.99 for them… daylight robbery,” while another concurred: “£3.99 thought it was a bit overpriced.”

However, not everyone shared this view, with one customer countering: “Had one yesterday from one of my local Aldis in the area and £3.99 for it wasn’t bad price to be fair.”

Despite the mixed reactions, many customers have expressed enthusiasm for trying the new drinks, with one person sharing their positive experience: “Tried the passion fruit one yesterday it was nice.”

An Aldi spokesperson said: “We’re always looking for ways to bring our customers trending food and drink experiences at unbeatable prices. Our Bubble Tea offers a great way to enjoy this popular café-style drink at home. All nutritional information is clearly displayed on pack to help shoppers make informed choices.

This development comes hot on the heels of another Aldi drink making headlines – a kombucha drink reputed to have numerous health benefits, including lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels, as well as boosting the immune system and gut health.

Available in three flavours – passionfruit, ginger and lemon, and wild berry – a 330ml bottle of The Juice Company Kombucha can be purchased in-store for £1.69.