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How to Make Tapioca Pearls: 5 Flavors for Bubble Tea Recipe

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Learn how to make delicious, chewy tapioca pearls at home with five unique bubble tea flavors including Brown Sugar, Matcha, Strawberry, Mango, and Peach. This comprehensive guide covers everything from preparing fruit purees and dough, to cooking and syrup soaking, perfect for bubble tea enthusiasts wanting fresh homemade boba pearls.

Ingredients

Brown Sugar Flavor

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

Matcha Flavor

  • ⅓ cup water (70 mL)
  • ⅓ cup cane sugar
  • 1 tbsp ceremonial grade matcha
  • ¾ cup + 2 tbsp tapioca starch (110 g), divided, plus extra for kneading and dusting

Strawberry Flavor

  • ⅓ cup strawberry puree (about 5-6 whole strawberries, 70 mL)
  • 2 tbsp cane sugar
  • ¾ cup + 2 tbsp tapioca starch (110 g), divided, plus extra for kneading and dusting
  • 1-2 drops food coloring (optional)

Mango Flavor

  • ⅓ cup mango puree (about 1-2 ripe mangoes, 70 mL)
  • 2 tbsp cane sugar
  • ¾ cup + 2 tbsp tapioca starch (110 g), divided, plus extra for kneading and dusting
  • 1-2 drops food coloring (optional)

Peach Flavor

  • ⅓ cup peach puree (about 2-3 ripe peaches, 70 mL)
  • 2 tbsp cane sugar
  • ¾ cup + 2 tbsp tapioca starch (110 g), divided, plus extra for kneading and dusting
  • 1-2 drops food coloring (optional)

Syrup

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

Instructions

  1. Prepping Fruit Juices & Liquids: Blend fresh fruit until smooth and press through a fine metal sieve to remove pulp, or use store-bought juice. Combine the strained fruit puree with sugar in a pot and add food coloring if desired. For Brown Sugar and Matcha flavors, add water, sugar, matcha, and optional food coloring to a pot.
  2. Heat Mixture: Dissolve sugar over medium heat and bring the mixture to a very gentle simmer.
  3. Make the Dough: When sugar is dissolved and mixture is simmering, add half the tapioca starch and stir to form a paste. Turn off heat and remove from burner once sticky and clumping. Immediately add remaining tapioca starch, mixing as much as possible, then transfer to a work surface and gently knead until smooth.
  4. Troubleshoot Dough Consistency: If dough is sticky, gradually add 1 tsp starch at a time to knead in. If too dry, dip hands in water or add 1 tsp water gradually until it forms a playdough-like consistency that is smooth and doesn’t crumble.
  5. Shape the Pearls: Divide dough into 4 pieces. Roll each piece into long logs about 1 cm in diameter. Cut logs in half, place halves side by side, then cut into small 0.5×0.5 cm pieces approx. 1 gram each. Roll pieces into balls and dust lightly with starch. To save time, roll 5-10 pieces on counter with palm, sprinkling starch if needed for easier rolling.
  6. Remove Excess Starch: Place pearls in a metal sieve and shake off extra starch to prevent clumping during cooking.
  7. Cook the Boba Pearls: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add pearls and boil for 15-20 minutes until they float to the surface; cook for the full 20 minutes if softer texture is preferred.
  8. Simmer Off-Heat: Turn off heat and cover pot, letting pearls sit for another 5 minutes in the hot water for full cooking and tenderness.
  9. Drain and Syrup Soak: Drain pearls immediately and transfer to a bowl of simple syrup, maple syrup, agave nectar, or brown sugar syrup to prevent sticking and add sweetness.

Notes

  • If dough is powdery and breaks apart, add more liquid or heat. Crumble dough back into pot, add water 1 tbsp at a time, mix until paste forms, heat until sticky, then add starch gradually until dough is pliable.
  • If dough is too sticky, add starch gradually until desired consistency is reached.
  • Work quickly when handling tapioca starch as it dries out and hardens. Keep unused dough covered with a damp cloth.
  • If pearls are too soft after boiling, rinse with cold water to firm up.
  • If pearls are too hard, allow them to sit longer in hot water after cooking.
  • Colors may vary due to fruit type and quantity used; color can fade after cooking. For bright colors, use food coloring drops.

Find it online: https://deliciousyum.com/how-to-make-tapioca-pearls-5-flavors-for-bubble-tea-recipe/