What Are The Best Tapioca Pearls For Boba Tea?

Have you wanted to make bubble tea at home?  This article takes a look at some of the best tapioca pearls for boba tea.

Best tapioca pearls for boba tea
Bubble tea is a popular drink throughout the U.S.

Bubble tea, otherwise known as boba tea, is a tasty new treat rising in popularity throughout the United States.  Most cities have boba tea shops popping up, making it easy to find.  

But what do you do if you do not have a boba shop nearby?  Or if you just cannot fit your daily fix into your budget?  Keep reading to discover the top 5 brands of tapioca pearls for homemade bubble tea.

Best Tapioca Pearls For Boba (Overall): WuFuYuan Black Tapioca Pearls

What Is Great About Them?

These have stellar reviews and are one of the most popular brands by far.  Using these pearls is convenient and quick, with the instructions claiming a 5 minute preparation time. 

Based on reviews, though, they take even less time to be ready.  Some happy customers say they have taken only 2 or 3 minutes.

Are There Any Drawbacks?

Like many other tapioca pearl brands, WuFuYuan pearls have some additives and preservatives.  If this is of concern to you, you may want to consider a different brand.

Best Plain Tapioca Pearls: Oceana Jiffy Boba White Pearls

What Is Great About Them?

Why is bubble tea so popular?
You can choose tapioca pearls with collagen for a healthy drink

These tapioca pearls have collagen added in, adding a little health kick to your bubble tea!  They boast of having no preservatives, which is fantastic for those who seek out cleaner products. 

The other major win for Oceana Jiffy Boba pearls is their microwaveable, single-serve packets.  You can have boba no matter where you go!

Are There Any Drawbacks?

Avoid these pearls if you are a vegan.  The collagen they contain gets sourced from fish.

Best Instant Boba: Geia Instant Boba.  

 Yes, you read that right.  Instant boba!  The winner in this category is

What Is Great About It?

These tapioca pearls have solid reviews from customers.  Ready in under 2 minutes in the microwave, you can have your boba nice and steaming hot with little preparation.  They also come in single-serve packets, allowing you to take them with you anywhere.

Are There Any Drawbacks?

If your goal is to have a preservative-free product, these probably aren’t for you. But, other than that, you can’t go wrong.

Best Natural Tapioca Pearls: Bic’s Boba

What Is Great About It?

White tapioca pearls in a bowl with a slice of lime
You can opt for natural tapioca pearls

These tapioca pearls are all-natural and made in the US.  They have some of the best customer reviews and the highest rating out there. 

Are There Any Drawbacks?

These take some time to prepare, upwards of 1.5 hours.  If you are looking for a quick fix, you will want to choose a different brand.

Best Tapioca Pearls For The Adventurous: Healthy way Colorful Pearls

What Is Great About It?

Colorful tapioca pearls, that’s what!  This bag is a mixture of unique and fun colors, allowing you to bring your boba to the next level.  Plus, they only take about 5 minutes to prepare.

Are There Any Drawbacks?

Just as you’ll find with many brands, these have some artificial colors.  Not a big deal for some people, but it can be a deal-breaker if you follow a clean diet.

Bonus Pearls: Tea Zone Apex Popping Pearls

This final winner is not technically a tapioca pearl – they are popping pearls.

What Is Great About Them?

Colorful balls that give you a pop of fruit juice when you bite into them.  How fun!  They come in tasty flavors (like strawberries).  They will add some pizazz to both the color and taste of your boba.

Are There Any Drawbacks?

Not really.  The popping pearls are just technically not tapioca pearls.

Author

  • Aisling O'Connor

    Aisling is an Irish food and drinks writer and journalist fueled by coffee and herbal tea. She followed up her journalism degree with nutrition studies. Find Aisling on LinkedIn.