What Are Tapioca Pearls?
Tapioca pearls, also called tapioca balls or boba, are small translucent spheres. Their cooked size is usually somewhere between a pea and a marble, and they’re made with tapioca starch, which comes from the cassava root. They are also pretty flavorless, added to drinks and desserts solely for their delightfully chewy texture (they’re similar to mochi, but a little less soft and sticky).
Important Tips for Cooking Tapioca Pearls
Before we get into the recipe, here are some key tips for properly cooking dried tapioca pearls:- Do NOT wash or rinse tapioca pearls before cooking. They must go from the package directly into boiling water.
- You must pre-boil the water before adding the tapioca. Do not add them until the water is at a rolling boil.
- The size of tapioca pearls can vary, and you may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly. For these white/clear tapioca pearls, you’ll know they are cooked once they are completely translucent, without any opaque white center. You can also taste them throughout the process to test for the right texture.
- You’ll need to use a lot of water when cooking tapioca pearls, as they are quick to absorb water and also very starchy. Not using enough water may cause them to become starchy and sticky, which we don’t want!
- Because they are so starchy, you’ll have to change the water a couple times and discard batches of starchy water.
- Note that 1 cup dried tapioca pearls yields roughly 2 1/2 cups cooked tapioca pearls.
How to Cook Tapioca Pearls: Instructions
Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a deep pot, and add the tapioca.
Bring it to a boil again, cover, and turn the heat down to medium low. Cook covered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
After 15 minutes, turn off the heat, keep the pot covered, and allow to sit for another 15 minutes.
Drain the tapioca pearls and rinse under cold water.
If the tapioca pearls still have opaque white centers, repeat STEP 1 and STEP 2 until all the tapioca balls are translucent.
You may have to repeat a few times depending on their size.
In the meantime, dissolve 3 tablespoons sugar into 1 cup warm water.
Once the tapioca pearls are cooked, drain and rinse under cold water one more time.
Then put them into the sugar water to prevent them from sticking together.
The cooked tapioca pearls lose their chewiness rather quickly, so it’s best to use them within 1-2 days.
Recipe
How to Cook Tapioca Pearls
Detailed instructions on how to cook tapioca pearls for use in bubble tea and desserts. These instructions are for dried tapioca pearls, not the quick cooking kind!
Serves: 8
Ingredients
- 6 cups water
- 1 cup large tapioca pearls (160g)
- 3 tablespoons sugar (plus 1 cup water)
Instructions
- Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a deep pot, and add the tapioca. Bring it to a boil again, cover, and turn the heat down to medium low. Cook covered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. After 15 minutes, turn off the heat, keep the pot covered, and allow to sit for another 15 minutes.
- Drain the tapioca pearls and rinse under cold water.
- If the tapioca pearls still have opaque white centers, repeat STEP 1 and STEP 2 until all the tapioca balls are translucent. You may have to repeat a few times depending on their size.
- In the meantime, dissolve 3 tablespoons sugar into 1 cup warm water.
- Once the tapioca pearls are cooked, drain and rinse under cold water one more time. Then put them into the sugar water to prevent them from sticking together.
Tips & Notes:
Cooked tapioca pearls lose their chewiness rather quickly, so it’s best to use them within 1-2 days.
