10 Best Tapioca Pearls in 2022: Make Awesome Bubble Tea Now!

Be it at the bottom of a chilled drink or on top of the dessert, tapioca pearls have made their way to a lot of people’s hearts.

They have this chewy nature that makes you feel like munching all the time. And the taste! Not overwhelming, just mild but spot on!

Pretty sure that you must be craving them at the moment, right? And the worst-case scenario is that you don’t have them in your kitchen to enjoy!

If that’s the situation, then Hakuna Matata!

Getting the best tapioca pearls is kind of easy. You just have to look through the options we have listed here.

How to Choose Tapioca Pearls (Boba) To Make Amazing Bubble Tea?

Types Of Tapioca Pearls

1. Clear Tapioca Balls

The first is the clear ones. They come transparent because tapioca starch gets cleat after undergoing the gelatinization process without any flavors and colors added.

That’s why most of the clear tapioca pearls don’t possess flavoring as they have only starch and water.

However, few of them may have white sugar syrup to make them sweet. Either it has been added during preparation or the bubbles have been stored in the syrup to make them absorb the sweetness.

2. Black Boba Pearls

The dark brown or black color simply comes from the caramel or brown sugar that is added to the pearls during preparation. Some of them may have mild sweetness while some can have regular sweetness that makes the pearls flavored anyway.

You will find many of the tea/coffee shops use black tapioca pearls for the drink as it makes the tastiest combination.

3. Flavored Tapioca Pearls

After a lot of experimentation, manufacturers have come up with flavored tapioca pearls that increased their versatilities.

Mostly the pearls are cooked or coated with fruit juices or flavored syrup that makes them taste different from another. Although the possibilities are unlimited, you can try out mango, strawberry, honey, watermelon, tea and orange.

4. Popping Boba Pearls

Popping pearls are not conventionally tapioca pearls. They are produced through a process named spherification. This method incorporates a reaction between sodium alginate (seaweed extraction) and calcium lactate or calcium chloride.

These bubbles are filled with flavorful fruit juice that bursts into your mouth as you bite them. You may even notice that their texture is different from the regular pearls.

Ingredients

Note that the best tapioca pearls should contain natural and nutritious ingredients. Usually, they are made of tapioca starch extracted from cassava roots, hot water and brown sugar.

There can be other stuff to enhance the flavor or color. However, avoid the ones that have preservatives or any chemicals. Luckily the products that we have listed here are all free of all those evils.

The popping pearls are quite different from the traditional ones. They mainly contain seaweed extract that produces the outer shell with fruit juices and other liquids inside. 

Preparation Time

The prep time is different for different tapioca pearls.

The most instant ones will be ready in 20 to 25 seconds. You have to heat the packet in microwave to make it ready. These pearls are actually great for quick drinks.

Many pearls take 5 to 10 minutes to get cooked. You cannot microwave them but boil them. These bubbles are ideal for both desserts and drinks.

There are lots of products that require longer time to make them ready for use. You will find these pearls perfect for adding to the dessert. Although they don’t require cooking, you have to soak them in milk or water for 30 minutes to overnight depending on the products you are using. After absorbing the liquid, they expand which indicates they are “ready” to be added to the pudding.

Some of the tapioca pearls come cooked. Usually these are known as popping pearls. You can use them straight in the drink or dessert.

Packaging

Make sure you get the pearls that come in air-tight packaging otherwise they can break easily. Packaging is an essential factor since it does the job of keeping the pearls fresh.

It would be great if the packet is resealable like the Hoosier Hill one or the container has a tight lid like the one from See Smell Taste.

However, in case you find the packaging poor, you have an option to store them in a better container.

Top 10 Best Tapioca Pearls Reviews On The Market

1. WuFu Yuan Tapioca Pearl Black Sugar Flavor

Boil for 2 minutes and then simmer the rest of 3 minutes. That’s how long it would take to cook WuFuYuan’s Black sugar tapioca pearls. It’s quick to even quench your thirst for the bubble tea right at home. That’s not the end.

The packaging weighs around 8.8 ounces so you would get a fair amount of bubbles in it.

Because they got a mild flavor, it will mainly attract the ones who prefer their bubble drink less sweet. However, in case you have a sweet tooth, you can make the drink more flavorful by adding a bit of honey or syrup.

They have this gel-like texture that makes these delightful treats ideal for any tea lover. Their chewiness feels super addictive.

One small issue, the instructions that come with it are in Chinese. So, it may confuse people who don’t understand the language. If you are one of them, we would recommend that you check out the relevant English videos. It’s actually easy to cook.

Highlighted Features:

• Takes only 5 minutes to cook.
• Come with a very mild flavor.
• Incredible gel-like texture.
• Comes in a big package in 8.8 ounces.

2. E-Fa Premium Grade Black Tapioca Pearls

Majority of the coffee shops that sell Boba drinks use black tapioca pearls from the E-Fa. Because of their premium quality, the brand has been awarded the National Best Taste Award of 2002-04 in the United States.

The pearls come in 105.6 ounces of vacuum-sealed package. It helps in keeping them fresh. Since the packet is quite big, it will go a long way.

Instructions are easily written in both Chinese and English so you won’t have issues while cooking the pearls. Speaking of that, one small issue is that it takes longer than the previous one to make them ready.

You have to boil the bubbles for 5 minutes, then let them sit for an extra 5 minutes and lastly strain them.

When it comes to the taste, it’s the mild but tasty flavor that makes them the best tapioca pearls. However, if you want, you can add sweetener to make it more flavorful.

Highlighted Features:

• Award winner Tapioca peal brand
• Takes 10 minutes to cook.
• Flavor is mild and tasty.
• Come in 105.6-ounce vacuum-sealed package.
• Instructions are easy to follow in Chinese and English.

3. Brexonic Popping Boba Pearls

Out of different flavors, we love their Mango popping pearls the most. The 2-pound container comes with translucent bubbles that are loaded with delicious fruity liquid. Right after you have them, they will burst in your mouth giving you a very flavorful experience.

The best part is its nutritious ingredients. It contains the combination of 64% water and 14.5% real fruit juice that will provide you with Calcium. Plus, the amount of Sodium and Calories is low, which makes it extremely healthy.

The popping pearls come cooked so there is no hassle to boil them separately. They would last up to a year and I’m sure you won’t be taking longer time to finish the entire jar.

One great thing about the pearls is that you can use them in anything besides your drink. Be it the ice cream, waffles, yogurt or cake, they would make the drinks and dessert more toothsome. Not just that, their bright orange color can embellish the simplest food and make it appealing.

The quality is surely premium. You will find its chewy-like texture super-addictive.

A small con is that the lid doesn’t stay fit on the container. So, you may want to finish the entire stuff quickly or put them in a different container.

Highlighted Features:

• Comes cooked and sweetened.
• Contains 64% water and 14.5% real fruit juice making it a healthy drink.
• Can be used in both drinks and desserts.
• Comes in 2 oz. container lasting up to a year.

4. J Way Instant Boba Bubble Pearl

Craving chilled, Boba milk tea right now? Then get these instant tea-flavored tapioca pearls from J Way that is quick and tasty. Because the pearls are microwavable, it would take 20 to 25 seconds in the oven to be “ready”.

Having been made from the real tapioca, the bubbles have a café-like quality. You will find the pearls coated with a gentle amount of syrup that gives them the needed sweetness.

Not only do they taste delicious with the brown sugar but feels addictive too thanks to their chewy-like texture.

The tapioca pearls don’t contain any artificial preservatives that can be harmful to your health. Instead, they have been preserved by applying high-pressure sterilization to help improve food freshness and safety. So, you would get to enjoy the pearls both taste-wise and health-wise.

As for the packaging, the 16 oz. box includes 6 packets that are microwave-friendly. Although each of the servings may satisfy a few, many patrons complained that it wasn’t enough for a regular cup. In such case, you can mix 2 packets to enjoy the drink.

Highlighted Features:

• Takes 20-25 seconds in the microwave to be cooked.
• 16 oz. box contains 6 packets.
• Milk-tea flavored with brown sugar.
• Doesn’t contain any artificial preservatives.

5. Bolle Premium Black Boba Pearls

Another great tapioca pearls that taste just like the ones in tea and coffee shops. Their almost all-natural ingredients make them very safe but tasty.

Firstly, the pearls are mainly infused with pure maple syrup and caramel that make them full of flavor. Secondly, they don’t have harmful gums or preservatives to cause any health issues.

One great thing is that the tapioca pearls are free of glutens. So, if you are on a restricted diet or have allergies, then this would be a great product to have.

The downside here is that the pearls take a very long time to cook unlike other branded ones. You have to boil them for 30 minutes at least to make them thoroughly cooked and have that chewiness. However, it’s worth the wait because of the flavors they have. 

Packaging surely needs improvement as the Boba breaks easily or else it gets full marks for the quality. If you don’t want any damages, then we would suggest you store them in an airtight container.

Highlighted Features:

• Almost all natural ingredients with maple syrup and caramel.
• Takes 30 minutes to cook.
• Free of gluten and preservatives.
• Comes in 96 oz. packet.

6. WuFu Yuan Color Pearls for Bubble Tea

A colorful surprise is what you would get from this version of WuFuYuan Tapioca Pearls. The cooking instruction is pretty much the same as the first product on the list. It will just take 5 minutes to be ready.

Because the pearls are colorful, you will love to add them to different desserts as well as the drinks.

This would be especially great for special occasions and birthday parties where you want to please your guests with a different treat.

Their taste is surely incredible especially with the chewiness. Even though the tapioca pearls have caramel for the sweetness, you will find them mild but tasty. If you like more sweets, you can add maple syrup to the drink. 

One great thing is that the instructions are written in English in the package. So, it will help you in the process if you are new.

The Boba pearls come in 8.8 oz. packet that will give you at least 4 to 5 servings. This is pretty enough for 2 to 3 days.

The only issue we found is with the packaging. It’s not resealable, so you may want to keep the dry pearls in a tight-lid container.

Highlighted Features:

• Takes 5 mins. to be cooked.
• Colorful and mild caramel flavored.
• Comes in 8.8 oz. packet.
• Instructions are in English plus easy to follow.

7. TEA ZONE Mango Popping Pearls

Get the pleasure of the juiciest dessert with this tapioca pearl Boba from Tea Zone. These bubbles come in about 3/8-inch diameter that will be big enough to enjoy.

They will pop as you bite them and fill your mouth with the mango-flavored liquid. Not only dessert, you can add them to your drink too.

Having been made of mango syrup, seaweed extract, calcium lactate, fructose and water, the pearls would be very nutritious. If you are even health-conscious, you can enjoy them to a great extent.

The plus factor is that it comes with a year of shelf life. So, there’s no need for worrying about finishing the container soon. Speaking of the that, the pearls come in a big 24-ounce jar that can go a long way. Since the lid is not sturdy, you can store them in another container with better cover.

Note that these are not regular Boba pearls since they have seaweed extract that is closer to agar-based pearls in texture. If you love to have the regular, you can try other ones on the list.

Highlighted Features:

• Pearls are quite big coming in 3/8-inch diameter.
• Mango flavor makes it tastier.
• Comes in a 24 oz. jar lasting up to a year.
• Can be used in both drinks and desserts.

8. See Smell Taste Small Pearls for Making Bubble Tea

Although tapioca pearls are popular for their association with Boba tea, the little treats have been a part of different desserts.

If you want to add unique flavors and look to your egg pudding, then we would suggest getting these bubbles from See Smell Taste. They have a soft and squishy texture that makes them just right for the pudding. 

Unlike traditional 5-min cooking procedure, you prepare the Boba by soaking them in milk or water for 30 minutes. So, don’t get fooled by the small size, these white pearls will expand after they absorb the liquid.  

They contain 100% natural ingredients, which make them healthy and safe. Neither the pearls have artificial colors nor preservatives. Their bold taste is something that would give you satisfaction.

The container comes properly sealed with a tight lid which is a big upside. You don’t have to worry about storing them in a different one. Coming in 24 ounces, it’s quite big to last you a long time.

Only con is that it doesn’t come with any instructions for the measurement. Since the pearls come out thick, we would suggest that you use a small amount of them for each dessert.

Highlighted Features:

• Comes in a big, tight-sealed 24 oz. container.
• 100% natural ingredients without colors and preservatives.
• 30 minutes soaking time.
• Bold taste makes it great for egg pudding.
• The pearls come out thick after soaking.

9. Fusion The Ultimate DIY Bubble Tea Kit

This kit from the Fusion will transform you into a complete barista at a small house party. It comes with two 8 oz. packets of tapioca pearls that are soft and premium.

You will get 4 packets each in 6 ounces that have 3-in-1 pre-mix powders. With each, you get different flavors including Taro, Honeydew, Mango and Strawberry that let you make the Boba drink tastier with their sweetness and flavors.

You can also mix them up and experiment with them to enjoy the flavored tapioca pearls. However, the gripe here is that many patrons didn’t like the taste after mixing the flavors. If that happens to you too, then try them individually. It would be delightful.

Cooking the tapioca pearls is very easy. Boil them for 5 minutes and then let them soak in for 10 minutes. That’s it. If you want, you can add a bit of brown sugar syrup to the water if you want more sweetness.

The ingredients are all natural. It doesn’t have any GMO, chemicals, and caffeine to cause health risks.

Highlighted Features:

• Includes four flavored 6 oz. packets
• Comes with two 8 oz. packets of tapioca pearls.
• Takes 15 minutes to make the pearls ready.
• Natural ingredients without caffeine.

10. Hoosier Hill Large #40 Tapioca Pearls

The Hoosier Hill pearls come processed with cassava to give you their thickest form. Although the white bubbles look small, they will swell way bigger after being soaked in water for 3 to 4 hours.

Although the process is longer than the ones of See Smell Taste, you would love the chewy texture and mild flavor. That’s why it is actually recommended that you use the product only when you have enough time in hand.

The pearls are mainly used in desserts especially egg pudding, so don’t add them to your drink. If you love something sweet, then enhance the flavor with these premium pearls.

Since they contain natural ingredients, they are the best Boba pearls for health conscious people.

They come in a 32 oz. resealable bag. Not only it is of decent quality but also keeps the tapioca pearls intact.

Highlighted Features:

• Comes in 32 oz. resealable package.
• Contains all natural ingredients.
• Takes 4 hours to be ready.
• Ideal for desserts especially pudding.

Comparison Table for Boba Pearl Brand

Top 3 Tapioca Pearls Brands on The Market

WuFu Yuan

WuFu Yuan runs under the company called Shanghai Yuan Zhen Food Co. They have been manufacturing tapioca pearls for 23 years. You will love their 5-minute black Boba pearls the most due to their gel nature and mild flavor.

Not only that, you will find them easy to cook, which makes them a great Boba pearl brand for the newbies.

Hoosier Hill

They have started their journey in 1999 and have been delivering high-quality products since then. You can say the same for their tapioca pearls.

One big reason is that they use all-natural, fresh ingredients right from their farm. These are what make the pearls not only premium but safe to consume too.

Their soaking-based tapioca pearls taste incredible especially when you add them to any desserts.

E-Fa

Another tapioca pearls brand that is popular for commercial purposes. Majority of the tea/coffee shops use E-Fa tapioca pearls is because they deliver café-quality taste.

Because of the quality, they even won the National Best Taste Award of 2002-04 in the United States with their boba pearls.

Although they take 10 minutes to be ready, you will find them have the right texture and consistency that makes them great.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Best Boba Pearls Product?

To many, E-Fa Premium Grade Tapioca Pearls are the finest of all. It takes quick 10 minutes to get them cooked and add them to your drink.

Coming in a big package, that too vacuum-sealed, helps keep them fresh. Since it’s not resealable, you should store them in an air-tight container. If we talk about the texture, it’s surely premium. People also love the mild taste it has.

For the dessert, we like the ones from Hoosier Hill. They have a comforting texture with a great Boba flavor. Not only do they make the pudding look appealing but also taste delightful. Made of all-natural ingredients, you will find them very safe to have.

Are Tapioca Pearls Safe To Consume Every Day?

Not Really.

Tapioca pearls are typically made of natural ingredients that make them safe. They are free of gluten, preservatives, caffeine and other chemicals to help keep you from the all the risks. However, the only risky ingredient is the high sugar content.

That’s why if you consume them every day, it will affect your health. You can keep the amount in moderation and it’s advisable that you have them thrice a week.

How Would I Know If Tapioca Pearls Have Gone Bad?

Tapioca pearls do expire but it depends on the types of the pearls and manufacturer. Instant pearls expire after a few hours of opening the bag, non-instant ones may last up to 12 months.

To know whether the pearls have spoiled, first look for molds that will appear in white spots. You can also check the smell, if they have an odor, it means they have gone bad.

Where To Buy Boba Pearls?

You can buy Boba pearls from any local grocery store. They should be in the baking aisle among the puddings and mixes. If you want to avoid going out, then you can buy them online. Amazon can deliver them to your home quickly and safely.

Final Words

Tapioca pearls have the skill to make any dessert or drink more enjoyable. You can have them alone or at a small get-together, it’s ideal for any occasion.

We know how much trouble it is to find the ones that will be of premium-quality. That’s why we listed some of the best tapioca pearls in the market so you can easily bring them home.