If you’re a fan of Boba Tea, also well known as Bubble Tea then you are most likely familiar with the terms: “Tapioca Balls” and/or “Boba Pearls.” If you’re not familiar with such terms, then you might want to know that Tapioca Balls are the main ingredient in the very popular Taiwanese drink – Bubble Tea.
This originated in the 1980’s in a tea house matcha bubble tea in Taiwan. Apparently, one of the employees at a tea house in Taiwan was pretty bored during a lunch break and she took her Tapioca pudding and dumped it into her tea. It tasted quite amazing and it was soon added to the tea houses’ menu. In no time, it became the most popular beverage they served.
However, now with the help of Franchise – it is now equally loved by children and adults alike globally and has taken over the streets with tea shops.
Bubble Tea is known by many other names depending in which part of the world you’re in…
Below you’ll find some of the many names that is known by:
Bubble Tea
- Tapioca Pearl Drink
- Black Pearl
- Pearl Shake
- Pearl
- Pearl Milk
- and more.
You should also, know that asides from tea based beverages – Pearls can also, be added to coffee, alcoholic drinks and smoothies!
In a nutshell, these are Tapioca pearls that are approximately the size of a marble. They consist of a neutral flavor, which is typically described as chewy or gummy in consistency. These are made from tapioca starch, which come from Cassava Root.
Tapioca pearls are either white and somewhat transparent in appearance or they are black, which all depends in the ingredients that are utilized. As mentioned previously – white, Tapioca pearls are made from either starch, caramel or chamomile extract. However, the more popular Tapioca pearls, which are black are made from starch, sweet potato and / or brown sugar. However, you can basically, make Tapioca pearls any color you want by soaking the white Tapioca pearls in colored syrups.