Loading...
Home>Bubble Tea Supplies>Boba | Bubbles | Tapioca Pearls FAQ

Boba | Bubbles | Tapioca Pearls FAQ

Click Question to expand/collapse our answers.

> What is boba (bubbles)?
Boba / Bubbles / Tapioca Pearls are produced by passing moist starch of the cassava root through a sieve under pressure. Boba is a common ingredient in Asian desserts such as kolak, tapioca pudding, and in sweet drinks such as bubble tea, fruit slush and taho, where they provide a chewy gummy texture and slightly sweet taste to the drink. These boba/bubbles have been used to create the increasingly popular boba/bubble tea market that has swept the world. They can be added to cold or hot milk tea, ice-blended drinks, smoothies, juice and coffee.
> Why are tapioca pearls (boba/bubbles) too chewy or too soft?
Boba will vary in texture depending on the length of time they are cooked. Boba/bubble aficionados might have different preferences on the texture of the boba (some prefer more chewy and others more soft), but the majority of bubble tea lovers will enjoy a good balance of both chewy and soft boba. For softer boba, longer cooking will be requires, while chewier boba will require a shorter cooking time. The boba (tapioca pearls) will last for up to six hours.
> Why are my tapioca pearls melting in the pot?
Typically, if your tapioca pearls (boba) are melting in the pot, you don’t have enough water in the pot. A good water-tapioca ratio is 7:1. For every cup of tapioca pearls you cook, Approximately 7 cups or [slightly more] of water is a good level to ensure your pearls don’t melt in the pot. The more you cook these tapioca pearls, the better feel you’ll get for how much water you’ll need to use to make the perfect boba.
> How can I make the tapioca pearls (boba) sweeter?
After boiling the boba and draining the water, soak the boba with either fructose, white/brown sugar, longan honey, and/or a similar type of sweetener.
> Do your products contain sugar?
Typically, most of our powders and syrups are pre-sweetened with sugar, unless they are specifically marked as "sugar-free".
> I've finished cooking the tapioca pearls, now what?
After boiling the boba, you will want to use a strainer and rinse the tapioca pearls. (Some people rinse with cold water to make the tapioca pearls chewier.) Then, put the rinsed tapioca pearls in a bowl or container. Make sure to keep them moist by adding a little warm water or sugar syrup (fructose, honey, etc.).
> Do the unused/uncooked tapioca pearls (boba) need to be refrigerated?
No, the boba do not need to be refrigerated. Just keep them in a dry, cool area. Most boba have a shelf life of 6 months. Placing tapioca pearls in air-tight bags/containers will help them stay fresh longer. There's no harm in storing boba in the refrigerator. However, refrigerating may make the boba a little harder.
> What is the shelf life of bubble tea products?
This depends on the manufacturer. The powders typically have a shelf life of 12-18 months. Tapioca pearls or boba have a shelf life of approximately 6-9 months. The juice syrups have a shelf life of approximately 9-12 months.
> What's the difference between the concentrated juice and the flavored powders?
Flavored powders are creamier, where as the concentrated juices have a fruit-like tang. Both can be used with or without tea. For ice-blended drinks, both also can be used.
> Do I have to use fructose for my drinks?
Fructose is definitely preferred over regular sugar or sugar syrup. However, you can also simply make fructose-like syrup by mixing sugar (white or brown) with warm water. The ratio of water to sugar depends on how sweet you want it.
> Is there a minimum age suggested for bubble tea?
Bubble tea is suitable for all ages. However, tapioca pearls should not be consumed by children under the age of 3. Please be careful when consuming tapioca pearls to prevent choking.

Other Useful Information

> Bubble Tea Business FAQ
Click to see our Boba/Bubble Tea Business FAQ page
> SupplyVillage.com General FAQ
Click to see our general FAQ page
> Shipping Information
Click to see our Shipping Info page
> Free Southern California Delivery
Click for more information about free So-Cal delivery