Boba tea, or the famous bubble tea, has become a global favourite of millions, approved by both millennials and Gen Z. It has a great aesthetic appeal, which makes the drink Instagram-worthy.
But why wait at trendy cafes when you can recreate your favourite boba tea with homemade boba or popping boba in your kitchen? Sounds fun, right? Here we are going to talk about the origin of boba, its types and then the easy DIY recipes to make boba.
What is Boba?
The chewy tapioca pearls or balls named Boba has a Taiwanese history and originated in the 1980s. The inspiration for the boba tea comes from the local desserts and the traditional tea culture in the country. First, it was made by mixing tapioca pearls and sweet milk tea. Then the drink’s base became black or green tea, milk or fruit flavourings and customised toppings over time. People sometimes call the beverage itself boba.
Two tea houses, Chun Shui Tang in Taichung and Hanlin Tea Room in Tainan, have a friendly rivalry over who should be credited with inventing it. The drink got later popularised in the 1990s all over Asia and then worldwide due to unique textures, wide flavour variety, and visually appealing aesthetics.
Regular boba are chewy pearls made out of tapioca starch, whereas popping boba are juice-filled balls. Homemade boba is way cheaper than store-bought ones, allowing you to sip freshly made boba tea, giving you creative freedom to experiment with flavours, textures, and aesthetics. Both are delicious. What you should decide is your mood, whether you like it chewy or juicy.
How to Make Boba at Home
Ingredients needed:
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1/3 cup water
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1/4 cup brown sugar
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1 cup Meron’s tapioca starch
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1/4 tsp black food dye (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to make boba at home:
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The first step is to add water and the brown sugar into a heated pan and dissolve it.
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You can also add black food dye for colouring, which is optional.
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Add and stir half of the tapioca starch from the pack and bring to a boil.
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Stir until it reaches a sticky consistency.
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Mix in the other half of tapioca starch powder in the pack after turning off the heat.
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The mixture is placed on a clean table, and knead it to smooth batter.
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Cut it in half after rolling it into a log shape, then roll it again into a smaller log.
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Cut it into small pieces and shape it into pearls with your hands.
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Cook the pearls made in boiling water for 15 minutes.
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Finally, let it sit for five minutes after switching off the heat.
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Cool the pearls after straining the water.
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Boba pearls can now be served with your favourite milk tea or fruit flavours.
How to Make Popping Boba
The science that goes into making popping boba is called molecular spherification. It turns the liquid into a popping boba by enclosing it in a thin, gel-like membrane. So, to make it, we need the juice you prefer, along with Meron’s Sodium Alginate and Calcium Lactate. Also, a syringe or dropper is required.
Step-by-Step Instructions
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The fruit juice is taken in a bowl mixed with sodium alginate and let it rest.
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Make a mix of calcium lactate powder and water and add the sodium alginate and juice mixture drop by drop into the mixture using tools like a dropper or a syringe.
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The calcium bath transforms the outside of the drops into gel with liquid inside, resulting in boba pearls.
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Let it sit for 2 minutes. Rinse the balls in cold water. The popping boba is ready.
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You can use it immediately or store the popping boba in the refrigerator, which will help to preserve the structure.
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Home made popping boba has a shelf life of about 1 to 3 days in refrigerator
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Best enjoyed fresh because over time it may lose its structure.
Simple Popping Boba Recipe
You know, there are many types of popping boba recipes you can try out. It includes black tea-based boba and green-based bobas, as well as fruit-flavoured bobas using mango, strawberry, lychee, etc., which are great with popping boba. Here is a simple popping boba recipe - Mango Popping Boba.
Ingredients
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Mango - 1 cup (chopped)
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Water - 1/2 cup
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Sodium Alginate - 1 teaspoon
(For making calcium lactate water base)
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Cold Water - 500ml
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Calcium Lactate - 2 tsp
(For assembling)
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Ice cubes - 1/2 cup
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Mango Milk - 1 cup
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Milk with added sugar
Step-by-Step Process
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Make use of a blender, combine the chopped mangos, water, and Meron Sodium Alginate.
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Refrigerate the mixture for 3 hours in a bowl for removing bubbles inside of the solution
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Now, blend cold water and Meron Calcium Lactate.
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Take the mango solution from the refrigerator and use a syringe or popper to drop it into the Meron Calcium Lactate solution.
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Allow the boba pearls you made to set for 2 minutes before straining and rinsing with cold water.
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Now, you can enjoy the boba pearls, mango popping boba along with ice cubes, mango milk and plain milk.
Making boba and popping boba at home is not just fun; it’s budget-friendly and customisable according to your preference and also allows you to experiment with recipes. With Meron Tapioca Starch, you will get the perfect boba structure, while Meron Calcium Lactate Powder ensures smooth spherification. If you are interested in making your boba, then enjoy café-style bubble tea in the comfort of your home.
