Homemade Tapioca Pearls (Boba) for Bubble Tea
User Reviews
5
Homemade Tapioca Pearls (Boba) for Bubble Tea
Description
The Homemade Tapioca Pearls recipe requires tapioca starch mixed with boiling water to form a pliable dough. Adding activated charcoal is optional to make them black instead of brown. The dough is kneaded until smooth and then rolled into a rope shape, cut into small pieces, and rolled into balls about 1 cm in diameter. These raw pearls are then cooked in boiling water until translucent and chewy.
A brown sugar syrup made by simply dissolving brown sugar provides sweetness to accompany the pearls. The pearls can be soaked in syrup at room temperature for up to four hours. Chilled leftovers should be reheated briefly in boiling water to re-soften before serving, preventing them from turning overly firm or tough. Activated charcoal affects color but not taste.
This homemade tapioca pearl recipe is useful for bubble tea enthusiasts who want fresh pearls rather than store-bought. It yields chewy pearls with an authentic texture suitable for tea drinks.
Tapioca pearls soak in brown sugar syrup at room temperature for up to 4 hours to keep soft and sweet.Store leftover tapioca pearls in the refrigerator and reheat in boiling water 1-2 minutes before serving.Activated charcoal gives pearls a black color but can be omitted without affecting flavor.
Ingredients
Brown Sugar ("Syrup")
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
Tapioca Pearls
- 12 teaspoon tapioca starch
- 1 teaspoon activated charcoal optional
- 4 teaspoon water must be boiling hot, boiling hot
- 1 L water for cooking the tapioca pearls
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. (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
- Soak tapioca pearls in brown sugar syrup at room temperature up to 4 hours to maintain softness.
- Reheat refrigerated pearls in boiling water 1-2 minutes before serving to prevent toughness.
- Activated charcoal is optional and only affects color, not taste.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 2Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 87 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 87kcal | 4% |
| Carbohydrates | 23g | 8% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Sodium | 3mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 19mg | 0% |
| Sugar | 12g | 24% |
| Calcium | 10mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
You'll Also Love
