Boba or Tapioca Pearls

Black tapioca pearls make us bubble over with joy! Also known as boba, black tapioca pearls are the perfect “bubbles” in bubble tea. They are small, round balls made from tapioca starch for a sweet and somewhat gummy consistency. Ours are the same boba pearls as those used at gourmet pearl milk tea shops. Also delicious in desserts, black tapioca pearls are a versatile treat.

What Are Tapioca (Boba) Pearls?

Tapioca pearls are gummy-like spheres made from the starch of the cassava root, a plant native to South America that is now cultivated throughout the world. The round tapioca pearls are produced by passing the moist starch through a sieve under pressure. That starch is often combined with flavoring to sweeten the pearls. Dried tapioca pearls (like these) must be cooked prior to eating.

The Story Behind The Boba

In the 1980s, one Taiwanese tea stand had the bright idea of adding tapioca pearls to their frothy tea drinks to create imaginative and tasty beverages. Since these drinks had bubbles at the top (the froth) and at the bottom (the pearls), they became known as bubble tea. Today, “bubbles” more commonly refers to the tapioca pearls in the tea. Bubble tea is especially popular in Taiwan, although it is enjoyed throughout the world. It’s a favorite of many of our customers, who buy tapioca pearls from us knowing high-quality boba is the secret to making a perfect drink.

Boba tea can be prepared with almost any flavor, and served hot, cold, sweetened, with cream, with milk, or plain. However, the essential element of this versatile drink is the black tapioca pearls that sink to the bottom. Boba tea is known by many names, including bubble tea, black pearl tea, pearl milk tea, and tapioca tea.

Other Ways To Enjoy Boba

Bubble tea isn’t the only way to enjoy boba! These chewy tapioca pearls are also delicious in other beverages, like smoothies and slushie drinks. Try a scoop of boba pearls in your iced coffee for an interesting spin on your favorite energizing beverage. They can also be paired with Asian desserts such as baobing (shaved ice) or grass jelly. Boba pearls make a fun topping for frozen yogurt and ice cream, as well!

Info taken from: https://nuts.com/chocolatessweets/asian/bubble-tea/black-tapioca-pearls.html