What are tapioca pearls?
Tapioca pearls, aka tapioca balls and boba pearls, are marble-like edible balls made with tapioca starch from cassava root. The ingredients of homemade tapioca pearls are tapioca starch, sugar, and water. So, they do not have gelatin, contrary to popular belief.
Do you eat the balls in bubble tea?
The balls in bubble tea are usually tapioca pearls, and they are edible. However, they almost have no nutritional value, so there is no benefit in eating them other than the calories provided.
Bubble Tea Recipe
Let’s make bubble tea at home and enjoy it all together with your loved ones!
Tags: Bubble tea
Bubble tea is a tea-based iced beverage. It originated in Taiwan and was brought into the United States by Taiwanese immigrants. Bubble tea is the most known name of this milky tea beverage, but you can also see it named pearl milk tea, bubble milk tea, tapioca milk tea, boba tea, and boba in different regions.
The main ingredients of traditional bubble tea are black tea, milk, a sweetener, and tapioca pearls. You can also see different bubble tea versions. Some bubble tea versions are made with green or oolong tea instead of black tea. Some versions are made with condensed or vegetarian milk, like almond milk and soy milk, instead of regular milk. In addition, you can top it with tea grass jelly, aloe vera, or red bean instead of tapioca pearls. Each version has a unique flavor and pleasure.
Let’s move on to the bubble tea recipe below!
Ingredients
1 cup strong black tea, brewed and cooled
½ cup whole milk (or almond milk or soy milk to make vegetarian bubble tea)
1 tablespoon simple syrup or sugar (change the amount to your liking)
¼ cup tapioca pearls, cooked, drained, and rinsed to cool
Ice cubes to fill a tall glass
Vanilla extract or other flavorings of your choice (optional)
Directions
Add the tea, milk, sugar, and flavoring of your choice in a blender, and blend them until well combined.
Fill a large glass with ice cubes.
Pour the blended mixture over the ice cubes.
Add the tapioca pearls to the glass, and stir it gently.
Your bubble tea is ready.
Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
RECIPE NOTE FOR BUBBLE TEA:
Traditional bubble tea is served with ice cubes. However, you can add ice cubes to the blender to crush the ice and harmonize it with the tea and milk mixture. So, you will have a colder-felt bubble tea with a thicker texture.
HOW TO SERVE BUBBLE TEA:
Please serve bubble tea in a tall glass with a straw.
