What are the different types of boba

Walking into any of our Fruitealicous locations in the Dallas area is like walking into a magical, colorful playground. Even the most experienced boba lover can be a bit overwhelmed. Let us walk you through the amazing add-ins you’ll see.

Tapioca Balls

This is not the tapioca you think of in stores or cooking on grandma’s stove. Our tapioca balls are black and chewy and taste like caramel. The American version is white and kind of unappetizing. The tapioca pearls used in boba are infused with brown sugar – YUM! While some places cook tapioca balls once or twice a day, we cook them in small batches all day long – sometime as many as nine batches in one day!

Pro tip: if you love caramel flavor or our tapioca balls, you’ll love our Spotted Cow bubble tea.

Rainbow Jellies

So pretty, right?! We’d like to take a minute to correct an assumption. These are NOT made from gelatin. Made from coconut water, they’re vegetarian friendly! Each color has a fabulous flavor to go with it, such as mango, passion fruit, strawberry and pineapple. The firm texture adds an interesting dimension to your bubble tea. The Rainbow Jellies are bit softer and milder flavored than the fruit flavored ones.

Pro tip: Coffee jellies are great with Thai tea!

Pop Boba

The boba that POPS in your mouth! It’s a surprise in every bite! Each burst propels a powerful bit of fruit juice into your mouth. We’ve got many flavors to choose from, including strawberry, pina colada, passion fruit and even yogurt! Ask for a sample next time you come by.

Pro tip: Contrasting the flavor of your pop boba with the flavor of your bubble tea base produces great results.

Fresh Fruit

You’ll notice when you stop into any of our locations in the Dallas area that we don’t have a freezer. The fresh mango, strawberry, kiwi and pineapple bits we offer are diced each morning. They add flavor and a serving of fruit to your bubble tea or smoothie.

Pro tip: Try our Tootie Fruitie mix or ask for Double Fruit to kick up your fruity experience!

Boba is something that has taken the world by storm in recent years. This trend has skyrocketed in popularity, and suddenly you will find Boba stores not only all over the USA but all over the world too.

So, if you are yet to try Boba, you might find yourself wondering just what it is.

Boba, and Boba tea, is something that first found popularity in Taiwan. But in recent years, it has spread all over the world, and it is seemingly something that everyone loves. But what the heck is it? In this guide, we’re going to find out.

Well, first things first, let’s take a look at what the heck Boba tea is. As we have said, Boba is something that comes from Taiwan. It was first created in the 1980s, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that it first began to enter the US market.

It took a little more time for Boba to become popular all over the world, and it is only really in recent years that you will find Boba stores on most high streets.

Boba is made using tapioca starch. The tapioca is made into small balls, and this is why they are sometimes also referred to as tapioca pearls. Most of the time, the small balls are simmered in brown syrup, and this is why Boba usually has a dark brown/black appearance and a sweet flavor.

Boba has a variety of uses, but it has really gained popularity through its use in tea. After all, it is Boba tea that has made Boba so popular.

Where Does Boba Tea Come From?

We have just credited Taiwan with the creation of Boba tea, but this is actually something that is heavily debated.

Due to the fact that Boba was created quite a while ago, there is a lot of debate over which region of Taiwan it comes from, and which store first created it. This is why the origin of Boba is simply listed as Taiwan.

In Taiwan, Boba had a lot of different uses. But, in the USA it has one primary use, and that is in bubble tea. It is bubble, or Boba, tea that has taken the world by storm.

Traditionally, bubble tea would have been created by layering pre-prepared Boba with black or green tea, before finishing it off with cream or milk.

A lot of Bubble tea stores still prepare their Boba in this way, but some have put their own spin on it. But what does Boba taste like?

What Does Boba Taste Like?

The dark appearance of Boba can give the impression that it is sour or bland, but this isn’t the case. Instead, Boba is incredibly sweet, and this is why it is used to create bubble tea.

The tapioca balls used in bubble tea are simmered in syrup, and it infuses them with nothing but sweetness. Other than this sugary, sweet taste, Boba doesn’t really taste like much. Instead, it is the ingredients in the tea that you will taste.  

In terms of texture, Boba might take you by surprise. When you drink Boba tea, you might find yourself accidentally slurping one of the small balls up your straw, and it can be a shock.

You might expect these balls to be hard, but they are actually soft and creamy. This is because of the tapioca used to make them. But there are actually a few different types of Boba. So let’s take a look at what they are.

Types of Boba

Tapioca Boba

The traditional type of Boba is tapioca. We have already spoken about this quite a lot, as this is the type of Boba that we have spoken about so far. This type of Boba can be served both cold and hot, and it is totally delicious. No matter what type of drink it is added to. 

Clear Boba

This type of Boba is actually pretty similar to tapioca Boba, and that is because it is produced using the same part of the tapioca plant. The only real difference between the two is that clear Boba is not simmered in brown syrup, and so it doesn’t have the same dark appearance as regular tapioca Boba. 

Popping Boba

Popping Boba is a little different, and for this reason, it is only really used in fruity drinks. It is created using different flavors and is designed to give a pop of flavor when it is eaten (hence the name). It is sweet with a gel-like consistency, but it is not made using tapioca. Instead, seaweed extract is usually used to make these pearls. 

Mini Boba 

Finally, mini Boba is made using the same ingredients as tapioca Boba. But, it is made to be a lot smaller. The smaller size means that it can be cooked quicker, and for a lot of bubble tea stores, this is more efficient. This also makes this type of Boba easier to eat, and this is why a lot of Bubble tea stores prefer to use mini Boba instead of regular Boba. But, it tastes exactly the same. 

Final Thoughts

So, if you haven’t gotten around to trying this new sensational drink, you really need to get yourself a cup of bubble tea. Just use this guide to answer any questions you might have about what boba is and what it tastes like.

What’s your favorite boba drink? Let us know down below in the comments!

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