Description
Homemade Boba Tea Pearls are chewy, slightly sweet tapioca balls perfect for bubble tea. Made from tapioca starch, these pearls are fun to create, customizable, and offer a fresher alternative to store-bought boba.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup tapioca starch (plus extra for dusting)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar or black sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- Optional: food coloring or flavor extracts
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine water and brown sugar. Heat until it comes to a boil.
- Remove from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons of tapioca starch until smooth.
- Return to heat briefly until the mixture thickens slightly, then remove from heat again.
- Stir in the remaining tapioca starch until a shaggy dough forms.
- Allow dough to cool slightly, then knead on a clean surface until smooth and pliable.
- Divide dough into small pieces and roll into balls about the size of a pea.
- Dust with extra tapioca starch to prevent sticking.
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and add the pearls.
- Boil for 20–25 minutes until they float and become chewy.
- Turn off heat, cover the pot, and let the pearls sit for 20 more minutes.
- Drain and soak the pearls in sugar syrup or honey to keep them soft and flavorful.
Notes
- Use only tapioca starch for authentic chewy texture—cornstarch won’t work.
- Customize with food coloring or flavored extracts like matcha or cocoa.
- Adjust pearl size to preference—larger pearls may need longer cooking.
- Use pearls the same day for best texture; they harden quickly when stored.
- Reheat briefly in boiling water if needed, but fresh is best.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
