Tapioca pearl

A tapioca pearl, also known as tapioca ball, is an edible translucent sphere produced from tapioca, a starch made from the cassava root.^[1] They originated as a cheaper alternative to sago in Southeast Asian cuisine.^[2][3] When used as an ingredient in bubble tea, they are most commonly referred to as pearls or boba. The starch pearls are typically five to ten millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) in diameter. By adding different ingredients, like water, sugar, or some other type of sweetener like honey, tapioca pearls can be made to vary in color and in texture. Various forms of tapioca pearls include black, flavored, popping, mini, and clear.^[4][5] Tapioca pearls are commonly soaked in sugar syrup to make them sweet and chewy.^[6] In teas, they are often added for their texture, with the flavor being provided by the drink itself.^[7]

The pearls are known as sabudana in the Indian subcontinent; they are used for sweet and savory dishes, such as sabudana khichri. In Brazil, the pearls are cooked with wine or other liquid to add flavor and are called sagu.