The best part about drinking boba tea, also known as bubble tea, are the boba pearls. Black, round, chewy, tapioca balls are the defining element in boba tea. When these bad boys are added to tea, smoothie, or slush, the drink is now Bubble/Boba tea. They're fun to eat and super addicting. Learn how easy it is to cook boba in 10 minutes!
Cooking boba pearls is soo simple and easy. I used to make boba from scratch and its very doable but TIME CONSUMING. So, I started buying pre-packaged boba pearls. Check if your local Asian specialty grocery store has them. They're a time saver.
What is boba?
Boba pearls, also known as bubbles, are made up of tapioca starch and black food coloring. They have a round, smooth, hard exterior. When cooked right, it has a chewy/ soft texture. When it's overcooked, the pearls start to come together and have a soggy texture. If boba pearls are undercooked and the texture is hard then they are no good. In this super simple recipe, I will show you how to make sweetened boba balls from pre-packaged bobas.
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❤️Why this Recipe works
- This recipe uses pre-packaged ingredients to save you time.
- I will show you how to easily and quickly boil boba pearls correctly so it cooks appropriately and is edible.
🥄Equipment and tools
- Small, deep pot
- Strainer or slotted spoon
🛒Recipe Ingredients
Ingredient Notes:
- E-FA Black Tapioca Pearl Boba is the brand I prefer to use.
- Brown sugar is optional - this sweetens the flavor of the boba pearls.
- Water
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
↔Substitutions & Variations
- Brown sugar - In place of brown sugar you can use white sugar, honey, agave or your favorite sweetener.
- You can use this method to cook varieties of pre-packaged flavored bobas such as lychee, strawberry, mango or any of them, really.
👩🏫 How to Cook Boba
Step 1: Add water into a pot, and turn on heat to high.
Step 2: When water starts to boil add boba pearls.
Step 3: Let pearls boil until they float to the top.
Step 4: When boba pearls start swell and float to the top, turn off the heat.
Step 5: Scoop out boba pearls with strainer or slotted spoon.
Step 6: Add 1 spoonful of brown sugar to bowl of boba pearls.
Step 7: Mix well and serve with your boba tea!
Expert Tips
- Freshly cooked boba is best used the same day.
🙋♀️Recipes FAQ
Usually for 5-7 minutes, until they float to the top. If the balls start to melt together, it's over cooked. If they crunch or are still hard, they are undercooked.
They will float to the top.
ALWAYS chew. It is good to remember to chew before swallowing. It will prevent any choking.
There's no difference. It's two different names for the same type of drink. Boba tea and bubble tea both refer to drinks that contain the tapioca pearls.
❄️Storage and reheating instructions
- Best to consume that day.
- Do not store in refrigerator or freezer since they will harden.
- If you let the boba pearls stick together, they'll form a hard clump.
- If making a big batch of boba and using throughout the day, keep in a pot of water with sugar and keep slightly warmed.
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📖Recipe
How to Cook Boba in 10 minutes
Equipment
- 1 pot
- 1 slotted spoon
Ingredients
- 1 cup boba pearls
- 4 cups water
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
- Boil 4 cups of water on stove
- Add 1 cup of boba pearls
- When boba pearls start to swell up and float to the top of the pot, turn off heat
- Use a slotted spoon to scoop out the boba pearls to a bowl
- Add 2 tablespoons full of brown sugar to boba pearls and mix well.
- Serve boba with bubble tea.
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