Tapioca pearls are the chewy heart of bubble tea — the topping the whole category is named after. If you're weighing up tapioca pearls, here's exactly what they're used in and how to prep them.
What Tapioca Pearls Are Used In
Per the product, tapioca pearls are the chewy element in bubble tea — "a drink you can chew." They're sweetened with brown sugar, black sugar, honey or fructose, and the 2.5mm pearls enlarge slightly when cooked.
| Application | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bubble tea | The classic chewy topping across milk teas and fruit teas |
The Cook-and-Sweeten Method
- Add pearls to boiling water, cook ~30 minutes, then steam ~30 minutes; stir regularly to prevent sticking.
- Rinse with cold water to cool and keep them chewy.
- Soak in sugar syrup for flavour and shine — e.g. mix 150ml brown sugar syrup with 300ml hot water, cool, and pour over 1kg cooked pearls.
The result: soft outside, chewy inside, not too sweet or sticky.
How to Stock It
Tapioca is the non-negotiable bubble tea topping. Made in Taiwan, 3kg bags (6 per carton), 10-month shelf life.
Stock tapioca pearls and browse the full wholesale range at bubbletea-supply.com.au.
