Description

Learn how to make classic tapioca pearls (boba) at home with this easy step-by-step recipe. Using simple ingredients like tapioca starch, sugar, and fruit purees or brown sugar syrup, you can create chewy, flavorful boba perfect for bubble tea and other drinks. This recipe includes tips for shaping and cooking the pearls to achieve the ideal texture.

Ingredients

Scale

Basic Ingredients

⅓ cup water (70 mL)
⅓ cup packed dark brown sugar or Muscovado sugar (65g)
¾ cup + 2 tbsp tapioca starch (110g – divided, plus extra for kneading & dusting)
1–2 drops black food coloring (optional)

Fruit Flavor Variations

⅓ cup strawberry puree (about 5–6 whole strawberries) (70 mL)
2 tbsp cane sugar
1–2 drops food coloring (optional)
⅓ cup mango puree (about 1–2 ripe mangoes) (70 mL)
2 tbsp cane sugar
1–2 drops food coloring (optional)
⅓ cup peach puree (about 2–3 ripe peaches) (70 mL)
2 tbsp cane sugar
1–2 drops food coloring (optional)

Matcha Flavor Variation

⅓ cup water (70 mL)
⅓ cup cane sugar
1 tbsp ceremonial grade matcha powder
¾ cup + 2 tbsp tapioca starch (110g – divided, plus extra for kneading & dusting)
1–2 drops food coloring (optional)

Syrup for Coating Cooked Pearls

¼ cup maple syrup, agave nectar, simple syrup, or brown sugar syrup

Instructions

Note Preparation: Refer to images, troubleshooting tips, or the accompanying video for visual guidance throughout this recipe.
Prepare Fruit Juices and Liquids: For fruit-flavored boba, blend fruit until smooth and strain through a fine sieve to remove pulp. Combine the strained puree with sugar and optional food coloring in a pot. For brown sugar or matcha varieties, mix water, sugar, matcha, and optional food coloring in the pot.
Dissolve Sugar: Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves and the mixture begins a gentle simmer.
Make the Dough: Add half the tapioca starch to the simmering liquid, stirring to form a paste. Remove the pot from heat once the mixture is sticky and starts clumping.
Knead the Dough: Immediately add the remaining tapioca starch. Mix thoroughly, then transfer the dough to a work surface. Knead gently until smooth, covering with plastic wrap or a damp cloth when not working.
Adjust Dough Consistency: If dough is sticky, sprinkle tiny amounts of starch (1 tsp increments) and knead until it firms up. If dry or crumbly, moisten hands or add small amounts of water gradually to achieve a smooth, playdough-like texture.
Shape the Pearls: Divide dough into four pieces. Roll each into a long log about 1 cm diameter, cut in half lengthwise, place halves side by side, then cut into 0.5×0.5 cm pieces (~1g each). Roll each piece into balls and dust lightly with starch. For faster shaping, roll 5-10 pieces on the surface with palm, dusting with starch as needed.
Remove Excess Starch: Place balls in a metal sieve and shake off excess starch.
Cook the Tapioca Pearls: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pearls and boil for 15-20 minutes, until they rise to the surface. For softer pearls, boil for the full 20 minutes.
Let Pearls Rest: Turn off heat, cover pot, and let pearls continue cooking in hot water for an additional 5 minutes.
Drain and Coat: Drain cooked pearls and immediately transfer them to syrup (maple syrup, agave nectar, simple syrup, or brown sugar syrup) to prevent sticking and add sweetness.

Notes

Use food coloring sparingly to achieve vibrant tapioca pearls in desired shades.
If dough is sticky, slowly incorporate more tapioca starch and knead well.
If dough crumbles or is too dry, moisten with small amounts of water while kneading.
Rolling pearls by hand is time-consuming; rolling multiple pieces on the counter with your palm speeds up the process but results in slightly oblong shapes, which taste the same.
Boiling time affects chewiness: less time produces firmer pearls, longer time yields softer pearls.
Store boba in syrup at room temperature for best texture; refrigerating can harden the pearls.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Boiling
Cuisine: Asian

Keywords: tapioca pearls, boba, bubble tea, homemade boba, tapioca starch, chew, matcha boba, fruit boba