You know that feeling? You’re standing in line at your favorite boba shop, eagerly awaiting your cup of tea with those little balls of deliciousness. But then you look at the price and think to yourself, “I could make this at home for a fraction of the cost.”
So that’s exactly what we’re going to do. Here’s how to make popping boba from the comfort of your own kitchen.
The delicious balls you see in your milk-based tea are made of tapioca pearls. Tapioca pears have a gelatinous type of texture, though there is no gelatin in the process of making boba. These chewy, satisfying spheres are vegan.
Why is it important to avoid artificial colors in your food and drinks?
Artificial colors are a common source of concern for many people. These colors are often made from petroleum-based ingredients, which can cause inflammation and other health problems.
Some of the most commonly used artificial colors include yellow 5, red 40, blue 1, and orange 6. All of these chemicals are known to be harmful to your health.
Regarding making boba, for those concerned about their health, it is important to avoid using artificial coloring. There are a sufficient amount of natural alternatives that can be used instead.
Doing so will improve the quality of your product and your health.
Artificial colors in boba often contain petroleum-based ingredients, which can cause health problems. These chemicals are used to make the artificial color more visible and longer-lasting in the finished product. While these chemicals may seem harmless at first, they can actually cause damage over time.
For example, one study found that people who regularly ate foods containing artificial colors were significantly more likely to have an elevated level of a type of cholesterol known as LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol).
How to make popping boba at home with natural colors
The first step is to gather your ingredients. You’ll need:
– 1 cup white sugar or honey, agave, coconut sugar (or any other natural sweetener of your choice)
– 1 cup water
– Bubble tea tapioca pearls (also called boba)
– A pot
– A strainer or colander
– A large bowl or container
– Natural foods for food coloring like these, but not limited to:
Yellow: mango, turmeric
Green: liquid chlorophyll, matcha tea powder
Fuchsia: fuchsia dragon fruit, beet powder
Black: activated charcoal
We recommend non-flavored, plain tapioca pearls like these:
Large Tapioca Pearls by Hoosier Hill Farm, 2 Pound
– Flavored syrup or honey (optional)
- To make the simple syrup, combine the sugar or honey and water in the pot and stir over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved.
- Once the sugar has dissolved, remove the pot from the heat and let it cool. This step is important because you don’t want your boba to be too hot when you add it later on.
- While the syrup is cooling, prepare your boba according to the package instructions. Most likely, this will involve cooking the boba in boiling water for 5-7 minutes.
- Once they’re done cooking, drain them in the strainer or colander and rinse with cold water.
- Now it’s time to add the boba to the simple syrup. If you want colored boba, puree the fruit of choice, or add water to 1 teaspoon of powder to make it liquid. Add food coloring to the syrup and stir until evenly mixed.
- Then, add the cooked boba to the pot of syrup and stir until coated. Allow the mixture to cool completely before moving on to the next step.
- The last step is optional, but if you want your boba to be sweetened, simply add flavored syrup or honey to taste. Once you’ve added sweetness to your liking, transfer the boba to a large bowl or container and enjoy!
Here is a great video showing how to make naturally colored boba from scratch using beautiful fruit colors and other natural ingredients.
Linquanaa shows you how in her 2 minute video titled “How to Make Rainbow Boba.”
To learn more about healthy ingredients to naturally color your boba:
Concluding Thoughts
Popcorn boba is a tasty treat that’s perfect for anytime sipping. It’s super easy (and inexpensive!) to make at home. Just gather your ingredients, cook up a batch of tapioca pearls, and let them soak in some flavored, naturally colored simple syrup. Honey or agave nectar also work well as natural sweeteners. Then just transfer them to a serving bowl or jar and enjoy!
We wish you well on your continuing journey to optimum health. Thank-you for reading!
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