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    Home Β» Recipes Β» Drinks

    Homemade Tapioca Pearls (Boba) for Bubble Tea

    Published: Apr 3, 2022 by Michelle Β· 39 Comments

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    This recipe for Homemade Tapioca Pearls (Boba) is simple to make with only 3 ingredients. These chewy, round spheres are a delightful addition to milk tea or fruit drinks.

    This article first appeared on Sift & Simmer in May 2017. Updated April 2022.

    A spoon of cooked tapioca pearls in a bowl on a wooden board.

     

    If you've been around an Asian mall food court, you will have seen them: pastel-coloured drinks with neon-coloured wide fat straws sticking up and black mini spherical balls on the bottom.

    Bubble Tea.

    What is bubble tea?

    It's a tea-based drink consisting of tapioca pearls (more commonly known as "boba" in the States) and was invented in the late '80s in Taiwan.

    The "bubbles" come from the foam that is produced by shaking the tea with ice. 

    Bubble tea was originally made with black tea, tapioca pearls, condensed milk/honey, but soon, different variations and mashups appeared.

    Tapioca pearls are now commonly found in these bubble tea drinks. 

    What is tapioca?

    Tapioca starch is a white starch derived from the cassava plant.

    It is commonly used as a thickener, similar to cornstarch. 

    What are tapioca pearls?

    Tapioca pearls are made from a mixture of tapioca starch and water.

    The "dough" is rolled into small spherical balls. 

    Raw tapioca pearls are white and opaque, but turn translucent when cooked. 

    What do tapioca pearls taste like?

    Cooked tapioca pearls have a squishy gelatin mouthfeel that are slightly chewy, with a texture similar to mochi or gummy bears.

    Are tapioca pearls healthy?

    As the pearls are mainly starch, they do pack a caloric punch with not much nutritional value.

    However, they're fun to enjoy as an occasional treat.

    Close up of raw homemade tapioca pearls in a dish.

    Why this recipe works

    This recipe for Homemade Tapioca Pearls comes together very simply with only 3 ingredients.

    If you don't care about the dark colour of the boba pearls, you can omit the activated charcoal.

    Adding the tapioca pearls directly into the brown sugar not only sweetens them but also streamlines the process.

    They're such a great addition to Hong Kong milk tea.

    Best of all, there are no artificial flavours, chemicals, or preservatives and it only costs pennies to make! 

    Ingredients you'll need

    There are only 2 main ingredients to making tapioca pearls.

    • boiling hot water: it's important that the water be *very hot*
    • tapioca starch: is a white starch from the cassava plant; you can find tapioca starch in packages at Asian grocery stores; they're different than wheat starch, glutinous rice flour, or rice flour

    I add an additional ingredient to make them dark/black in colour:

    • activated charcoal

    What is activated charcoal?

    Activated charcoal is a powder primarily used for poisoning and helps to get rid unwanted toxins in the body.

    It's made from burning coconut shells at a very high heat. You can find activated charcoal in health food stores. 

    It is purely optional and only used to colour the tapioca pearls. 

    How to use the charcoal

    Just add β…› teaspoon activated charcoal to the tapioca starch and mix with the hot water. 

    How to make them

    Add the brown sugar to a bowl or jar. Set aside  (Step 1 below).

    Measure out the tapioca starch into a bowl (Step 2 below).

    Add in the activated charcoal (if using, optional).

    Next, pour into the boiling hot water to the starch and mix with a spoon or spatula until a shaggy dough forms. (It may look dry at first. Don't add too much water at first or else your mixture will turn into a gooey mess). (Step 3 and 4 below)

    Note: it's important that the water is hot, or the dough will not come together. 

    Use your hands to knead the dough until it becomes smooth, pliable and not chalky (similar to the texture of play-doh). (Step 5 below)

    If the dough is a little too dry, add a little bit of water to it and knead until it comes together.

    Conversely, if it's too wet, add a touch of tapioca starch. It should tacky and not too sticky.

    Form the dough into a long rope about 1 cm in diameter, and use a dough scraper or sharp knife to cut into 1 cm pieces (Step 6 below).

    Roll the pieces into 1 cm pearls with your hands. (The tapioca balls will expand slightly when cooked). (Step 7 below).

    Step by step instructions on how to make tapioca pearls (boba), with text overlay.

     

    How to cook the pearls

    In a small pot, bring 1 L of water to a rolling boil and add in the tapioca pearls.

    Cook the pearls for 6-7 minutes, until they float to the top (Step 8 above).

    Note: Be careful not to overcook or it will turn to mush. You still want a slight chew to the pearls.

    Use a slotted spoon to remove pearls and place the cooked tapioca pearls into the brown sugar. Give the mixture a stir (Step 9 above).

    Tapioca pearls are now ready to use in your drink of choice.

    How to serve

    Serve the homemade tapioca boba pearls in a classic green or black tea, such as HK-style Milk Tea Bubble Tea or Matcha Latte.

    My favourite way to enjoy it is in this CoCo-Inspired Egg Custard Bubble Tea.

    Or try it in a fruit/slush or milk-based tea. 

    Alternatively, try it added to a sweet dessert such as Mango Pomelo Sago Pudding ζ₯Šζžη”˜ιœ². 

    There are so many ways to serve tapioca boba pearls -- just let your imagination run! 

    Homemade tapioca pearls in a milk tea bubble tea in glass jar.

    How to store and reheat 

    Store the cooked homemade tapioca pearls in an airtight container.

    If you're using the tapioca pearls on the same day, you can leave at room temperature for up to 4 hours.

    You can store any excess tapioca pearls in the fridge.

    Note: chilling the tapioca pearls will cause them to stiffen.

    To reheat chilled tapioca pearls, place them in boiling water for a few minutes until softened before serving for optimal texture.

    Other flavourings

    You can go wild with the colours and flavourings for these homemade tapioca pearls.

    Try adding these natural colours and flavours:

    • beet root powder: for red or pink pearls
    • matcha: green
    • butterfly pea flower: blue 
    • goldenberry: yellow
    • pink dragonfruit: pink

    A spoonful of cooked tapioca pearls in a bowl on a wooden board.

    Expert tips, troubleshooting & FAQs

    My dough ended up like a gloopy mess

    It's possible that you added too much water. 

    For next time, add the water in and feel the dough -- it should be tacky and not sticky.

    The dough is dry and crumbly and won't form

    Make sure that the water is boiling hot. If the temperature of the water is not hot enough, the dough will not form.

    Why is there no water in the brown sugar syrup?

    I found that straining the tapioca pearls and adding them right to the brown sugar (without water) created a stronger flavoured "syrup" -- and some of the residual water ends up dissolving the brown sugar anyhow.

    How can I add additional flavour to the boba pearls?

    You can leave the tapioca boba pearls to soak in the brown sugar syrup for a longer period of time, which will absorb more flavour.

    For a tea twist on the tapioca pearls, add 1 black tea bag to the brown sugar and let the pearls soak in the brown sugar tea syrup.

    Do I need to add the activated charcoal to the tapioca pearls?

    No, you can omit the activated charcoal. The resulting tapioca pearls will be white.

    Why do my tapioca pearls turn hard when added to fruit slushie?

    Chilling the tapioca pearls in a frozen or icy drink will alter the the texture and make them stiff and hard.

    I don't recommend adding tapioca pearls to cold frozen drinks. 

    Can I make a larger batch?

    Yes, you can absolutely double the batch.

    Can I freeze the tapioca pearls before cooking them?

    You can freeze the tapioca pearls and then cook them from frozen.

    Can I use cornstarch to make the boba pearls?

    No, you cannot interchange or substitute the tapioca starch to make the pearls.

    Other recipes you may like

    Be sure to check out these recipes:

    HK Milk Tea Bubble Tea

    CoCo-Inspired Egg Custard Bubble Tea

    Yuenyueng (Hong Kong Coffee Tea Drink)

    Jasmine Milk Tea

    Mango Pomelo Sago Pudding ζ₯Šζžη”˜ιœ²

    Korean Strawberry Milk (Easy No Cook)

    Be sure to let me know if you try my recipe -- tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment/rating below! 

    A close up of a spoonful of cooked tapioca pearls in a bowl on a wooden board.

    Print Recipe
    5 from 24 votes

    Homemade Tapioca Pearls (Boba) for Bubble Tea

    A recipe for homemade tapioca pearls for bubble tea, with the option to naturally colour them black.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time7 mins
    Total Time17 mins
    Course: Dessert, Drinks
    Cuisine: Asian, Chinese, Taiwanese
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 87kcal
    Author: Michelle

    For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.

    Ingredients

    Brown Sugar ("Syrup")

    • 2 tablespoon brown sugar

    Tapioca Pearls

    • 12 teaspoon tapioca starch
    • 1 teaspoon activated charcoal optional
    • 4 teaspoon boiling *hot* water must be boiling hot
    • 1 L water for cooking the tapioca pearls
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    For visual step-by-step photos, refer to the body of the post.

      Brown sugar "syrup:"

      • Place brown sugar into a jar or small bowl. Set aside.

      Make the tapioca pearls:

      • Place tapioca starch into a bowl.
      • Add in activated charcoal (if using, optional).
      • Add boiling hot water to the tapioca starch. (Water must be hot or the mixture will not form).
      • Stir the hot water quickly into the tapioca starch with a spoon or spatula until it becomes a shaggy dough.
      • Use your hands to knead the dough until it becomes smooth and not chalky (similar to the texture of play-doh). (It may look dry at first. Don't add too much water at first or else your mixture will turn into a gooey mess).
      • If the dough is a little too dry, add a little bit of water to it and knead until it comes together. Conversely, if it's too wet, add a touch of tapioca starch. It should tacky and not too sticky.
      • Form the dough into a long rope about 1 cm in diameter, and use a dough scraper or sharp knife to cut into 1 cm pieces.
      • Roll the pieces into 1 cm pearls with your hands.Β (The tapioca balls will expand slightly when cooked).
      • Place the tapioca pearls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or dusted with some tapioca flour.

      Cook the tapioca pearls:

      • In a small pot, bring 1 L of water to a rolling boil and add the tapioca balls into the boiling water.
      • Cook the pearls for 6-7 minutes, until they float to the top. Be careful not to overcook or it will turn to mush. You still want a slight chew to the pearls.
      • Use a slotted spoon to remove pearls and place the cooked tapioca pearls into the brown sugar. Give the mixture a stir.
      • Tapioca pearls are now ready to use in your drink of choice.

      Notes

      Note 1: Tapioca pearls can be kept at room temperature soaking the syrup for up to 4 hours. You may choose to store leftover tapioca pearls in the refrigerator. Before serving, heat the chilled tapioca pearls in hot boiling water for 1-2 minutes. This prevents the tapioca pearls from being too tough and chewy from being cold while stored in the refrigerator.
      Note 2: If you don't care about the colour, you can leave the activated charcoal out. It will taste the same, minus the black colour. The tapioca pearls will just look more brown than black, and that's how I would actually prefer them.

      Nutrition

      Calories: 87kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 19mg | Sugar: 12g | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

      The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.

      Did you try this recipe?Mention @siftandsimmer or tag #siftandsimmer!
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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. R

        April 27, 2017 at 4:36 am

        5 stars
        I've been meaning to make something like this for 3 years now, but never made the time. I wonder if my tapioca pearls are still good lol.

        Reply
        • siftandsimmer@gmail.com

          April 27, 2017 at 9:03 am

          Just ditch the prepackaged tapioca pearls and make them from scratch! Super duper easy. πŸ™‚

        • MJ

          July 16, 2020 at 1:53 pm

          Thanks for this recipe!! How is it dried? I'd like to make a triple batch and have them stored somewhete ready to boil whenever I'm feeling like having bubble tea. Would that work or is this only for fresh boba pearls? Thanks!

        • Michelle

          July 16, 2020 at 2:11 pm

          Hi there MJ, I haven't tried drying these boba pearls. You may want to experiment using a dehydrator, if you have one (I don't, so I can't say to how it will turn out). This recipe is for fresh boba pearls, which I understand is a bit of work in order to have a glass of bubble tea. πŸ˜‰

      2. Nikindra

        December 29, 2020 at 8:09 am

        5 stars
        I never comment on recipes but just had to this time. This is genius!! I’ve been looking for healthy boba. Can’t wait to try!!

        Reply
        • Michelle

          December 29, 2020 at 10:21 am

          Do report back if you try it! πŸ™‚

      3. Bintu | Budget Delicious

        April 10, 2021 at 12:11 pm

        5 stars
        Definitely going to be trying this! I love bubble tea and this will make it super easy to make my own.

        Reply
      4. Biana

        April 10, 2021 at 12:41 pm

        5 stars
        Yum! Bubble tea looks like such a delicious and refreshing drink!

        Reply
      5. Mahy

        April 10, 2021 at 1:25 pm

        5 stars
        I've never made a recipe like this before. I've always wanted to make tapioca pearls, just never had a chance to. This recipe is a true inspiration!

        Reply
      6. Liz

        April 10, 2021 at 1:39 pm

        5 stars
        Yum!! The first time I had bubble tea I wasn't sure if I liked it but now I'm hooked! This is a great one!

        Reply
      7. Beth

        April 10, 2021 at 1:43 pm

        5 stars
        My teens have an obsession over bubble tea! So excited to show them this recipe and give it a try! Definitely going to be a hit!

        Reply
      8. Lillian

        April 26, 2021 at 5:47 pm

        can you freeze the boba pearls, defrost and heat to use?

        Reply
        • Michelle

          April 27, 2021 at 6:49 am

          You can freeze the cooked boba pearls and cook from frozen in hot boiling water for about 5 minutes to heat through. Hope that helps.

      9. David @ Spiced

        April 04, 2022 at 4:58 am

        5 stars
        I had no idea you could make boba at home...and it sounds so easy, too! Laura loves bubble tea, so I should surprise her with a batch of homemade boba. Thanks for sharing!!

        Reply
      10. Neil

        April 04, 2022 at 6:30 am

        5 stars
        A very interesting recipe Michelle! You always open my eyes to different cuisines and foods I've never heard of. Love it!

        Reply
      11. Linsey

        April 04, 2022 at 1:17 pm

        5 stars
        Very refreshing and easy to make at home! Great recipe!

        Reply
      12. Heidi | The Frugal Girls

        April 04, 2022 at 3:43 pm

        I really like how you used these in your CoCo-Inspired Egg Custard Bubble Tea recipe. This would be such an amazing way to cool off on a hot summer day!

        Reply
      13. Anita

        April 07, 2022 at 1:29 pm

        5 stars
        It is so easy to make a big batch of this and then add it to my afternoon tea, saving me a ton of money not buying boba tea from outside. πŸ™‚

        Reply
        • Michelle

          April 08, 2022 at 12:12 pm

          Thanks for trying out the recipe, Anita! Yes, lots of cost savings making it yourself πŸ™‚

      14. Casey Rooney

        April 07, 2022 at 2:04 pm

        5 stars
        Amazing ! My kids are obsessed with Boba and I wanted to try to make it at home! This was a hit!

        Reply
      15. CMcMullen

        April 26, 2022 at 12:43 pm

        Can you make using coffee instead of water?

        Reply
        • Michelle

          April 26, 2022 at 12:55 pm

          Sure, coffee boba sounds amazing! πŸ™‚ In that case, I would omit the activated charcoal.

      16. Alison

        May 07, 2022 at 1:48 pm

        5 stars
        I never thought to make my own tapioca pearls. This was so much fun to make!

        Reply
        • Michelle

          May 16, 2022 at 6:52 pm

          Thanks for trying the recipe, Alison!

      17. Emily

        May 19, 2022 at 1:35 pm

        5 stars
        What a fun recipe! I can't wait to share this with my friends who love Bubble Tea πŸ™‚

        Reply
      18. Kali Alexandria

        June 05, 2022 at 4:58 pm

        5 stars
        Bubble tea is the best! Thank you for this recipe!

        Reply
      19. Sue

        June 20, 2022 at 5:07 am

        5 stars
        I've been interested in boba tea for a while but had so many questions about it. You answered them all - thank you!

        Reply
      20. Tristin

        July 07, 2022 at 1:58 pm

        5 stars
        My whole family is obsessed with boba tea, so I HAD to have this recipe!! Amazing!!

        Reply
        • Michelle

          July 12, 2022 at 12:30 pm

          Thanks for trying it out, Tristin!

      21. Traci

        July 14, 2022 at 7:08 am

        5 stars
        Ahhh who knew boba could be so easy and fun to make. Great recipe, great tips! Thanks for sharing πŸ™‚

        Reply
        • Michelle

          July 20, 2022 at 5:41 am

          Glad you had fun with the recipe, Traci!

      22. Louise

        July 15, 2022 at 11:18 am

        5 stars
        So fun to make and even more fun to drink!

        Reply
      23. Katherine

        July 17, 2022 at 2:15 pm

        5 stars
        Oh wow! This is not something I ever thought I could make myself! So excited to try it.

        Reply
      24. 2pots2cook

        July 20, 2022 at 12:35 am

        5 stars
        This is fantastic! We used both tapioca and activated charcoal! Must do!

        Reply
        • Michelle

          July 20, 2022 at 5:43 am

          Thanks for trying the recipe, Davorka! πŸ˜€

      25. Marco

        August 03, 2022 at 5:06 am

        5 stars
        Great and easy recipe. I even started to experiment with different flavours πŸ™‚
        Just a quick question when I use the activated charcoal my bobas have a "sand-like" taste. Only explanation I have I use Takesumi (Bamboo) instead of coconut. Anbody have a similar experience? Looking forward to making more Bubble Tea. Thank you Michelle.

        Reply
        • Michelle

          August 03, 2022 at 6:58 am

          Hi Marco, thanks for trying the recipe. Yes, using too much activated charcoal can add a gritty sandy taste. I find it also depends on the brand of charcoal you're using -- I haven't used bamboo charcoal before so I can't say for sure. However, you can always omit or decrease the amount. Hope that helps πŸ™‚

      26. Cade

        October 20, 2022 at 1:49 pm

        Amazing recipe, and very easy to make and clean up. Will definitely make again. This might just be me, but the 4 teaspoons of water did not seem sufficient for the dough. I tried 2 tablespoons instead and it seemed to work a tiny bit better, so if your dough is not coming together, I would try that. Other than that, its perfect, and my friends really enjoyed the drink. Thank you for sharing this!

        Reply
        • Michelle

          October 20, 2022 at 10:09 pm

          Hi Cade, thanks for your feedback!

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