Buzz
Craving a delicious bubble tea but don’t want to spend too much time cooking the tapioca pearls? With so many tips about soaking pearls, cooking times, and different types of tapioca, it can be confusing! Actually, you can cook the pearls in just 5-15 minutes, depending on the type. Don’t worry, we’ve gathered the key information to answer your most common questions.
Steps
Do you need to soak the tapioca pearls overnight?
No, soaking is not necessary if you're making bubble tea. The best way to prepare a great bubble tea is by boiling the tapioca pearls, not soaking them. If you do soak them overnight, you won't need to boil them. However, soaking takes 8-12 hours, and you're looking for a quicker method!
- Bubble tea typically uses large black tapioca pearls, but you can also use small white ones. Both types are bland – they have no flavor! The main difference is in their texture.
How to quickly cook small white tapioca pearls?
Boil the water before adding the tapioca pearls. If you add the pearls before boiling the water, it will take longer to cook! Measure the amount of water needed, pour it into a large pot with a thick bottom, and bring it to a boil over high heat.
- The ratio of water to tapioca may vary depending on the brand, but generally, you can use 5 cups (1 liter) of water for every 1 cup (100g) of small white tapioca pearls.
- 1 cup (130g) of uncooked tapioca pearls will yield 2.5 cups (320g) of cooked pearls.
Pour the tapioca pearls into boiling water and reduce the heat to medium. Do not rinse the pearls! Simply drop the packet of tapioca pearls directly into the boiling water. Stir until the pearls float to the surface, then reduce the heat to medium.
Is cooking white tapioca pearls the same as cooking black ones?
They're quite similar, with the main differences being the amount of water and cooking time. Use 2 cups (480 ml) of water for every ¼ cup (30g) of uncooked black tapioca pearls. Bring the water to a boil first, then carefully add the large black pearls. Stir gently until the pearls float to the surface, then reduce the heat to medium.
- Do not rinse the tapioca pearls before boiling them! Simply drop the packet directly into the boiling water.
Can I cook tapioca pearls faster, maybe in 5 minutes?
Yes, you can boil large black tapioca pearls for bubble tea in just 5-10 minutes. To make bubble tea quickly, boil large black tapioca pearls until they are soft but still firm, reaching an 'al dente' texture (cooked through but not overly soft). The maximum boiling time is about 10 minutes.
- Use the 'al-dente' pearls as soon as they cool, because they will become firmer after a few hours.
Yes, if you use quick-cooking tapioca pearls, the cooking time will be just 5-7 minutes. Check the packaging to identify the type of tapioca pearls you're using before adding them to the water. If they are quick-cooking pearls, you can reduce the boiling time from 12-15 minutes to just 5-7 minutes.
Why do my tapioca pearls fall apart?
It’s likely that you cooked the tapioca pearls in the liquid for too long. Tapioca pearls don’t easily fall apart, but they will eventually dissolve in water and other liquids. Don’t add the tapioca pearls to water that isn’t boiling, and it’s important to drain the water immediately once the pearls are cooked to avoid soaking them longer than necessary.
- If you’re making bubble tea, enjoy it right away so the pearls don’t soften and break apart in the drink.
Are bubble tea pearls harmful to your health?
Don't worry, bubble tea pearls won't make you sick. These pearls are made from cassava root (manioc). While raw cassava can be toxic, the processed pearls are safe to eat and cause no harm.
Bubble tea pearls also don't cause digestive blockages or constipation. If consumed in moderation, you won't encounter any issues when enjoying bubble tea!
- Bubble tea pearls do not cause cancer. Here's the science behind it: some traces of cancer-causing compounds were found in bubble tea pearls in a lab, and rumors spread from there. But it turned out those compounds were misidentified, and bubble tea pearls are completely innocent.
