HOMEMADE BLACK TAPIOCA/BOBA PEARLS

Tapioca pearls of Boba pearls are chewy, translucent spheres made from tapioca starch, and are usually added to desserts and drinks such as milk tea.
They can be made to vary in color, but black is the more commonly used for boba pearls.
Learn how to make black tapioca pearls (boba pearls) from scratch with this simple tutorial. It is so easy and fun to make and much better than using the dried ones.
For more great tips, details and to print this recipe, visit our homepage 👇
https:://www.foxyfolksy.com/how-to-make-black-tapioca-pearls
The balls can be made ahead and dried if not yet to be used.
INGREDIENTS
▢6 tablespoon tapioca flour
▢2 tablespoons freshly boiled water
▢black food color
RECIPE NOTES
ABOUT THE VIDEO: The recipe on the video: 9 Tbsp Tapioca Starch = 3 Tbsp boiling water
The amount of black food color may vary depending on the brand you are using. I used liquid food color and used about 1/4 teaspoons.
I find that using a glass bowl or metal bowl is better especially when using food color.
If making a larger batch, just follow the 3:1 ratio of tapioca flour to hot water.
You can use it to enjoy making your own Buble (Milk) Tea at home!
Check out our Homemade Buble (Milk) Tea recipe as well 👇
www.foxyfolksy...
For more great recipes, visit our homepage 👇
foxyfolksy.com
Subscribe to our YT Channel:
www.youtube.co....
Social Media:
Facebook: / foxyfolksy
Instagram: / foxyfolksy
Pinterest: / foxyfolksy
TikTok: / foxyfolksy
#foxyfolksy

[@ninmaca7134]

First to comment. Cool vid! Thanks heaps for sharing ;)

[@FlandraLabs]

This is one of the only guides that don't involve cooking and boiling down the dough. I'm going to try this (to save so much time)

[@FoxyFolksy]

Make sure that water is boiling hot though... let us know how it goes..

[@TheLady2085]

TAPIOCA PEARLS! TA-PI-O-CA. Stop asking if you can use corn starch, potato starch or even flour fgs!!
Tapioca makes it chewy.
I'm trying this tomorrow. Thanks!

[@FoxyFolksy]

Ahhhh at last someone who can relate...love you for this!

[@MG-sx8gw]

Thanks a lot for the video!
I've finally been able to make these successfully and can make them any time I have a craving, amazing!!

[@FoxyFolksy]

glad to hear it Jen...

[@husnasaffa]

Hi. Really good video. Plus I didn't know that make Boba pearls is so easy!

[@iatmiuae7215]

Oh my god! Thank You SO Much for this recipe, it really works. Thank You.

[@FoxyFolksy]

glad to hear it!

[@ylremskitchen6012]

Nice i will try to make this ..coz i missed milk tea ....

[@aatsista]

The recipe I learned to make Bubbles used black tea for the dough and to flavor the water it is boiled in! :)

[@FoxyFolksy]

great tip...thanks

[@eternitylifelife]

Hi Foxy,
Your video has guided me really well and I succeeded in making my very first batch of tapioca pearls!
Thanks for sharing :)
(I used black sugar instead of black food coloring)

[@FoxyFolksy]

You are welcome...

[@Gojoforever]

Did u use a hot water in the boiling part?

[@aliyahharis9541]

I really wanted to try making boba
I am gonna make it today. I'm gonna buy tapioca flour and make it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😍😍✨✨🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳
Hope it works

[@FoxyFolksy]

Hope you enjoy it! Tell us about it pls.:)

[@FoxyFolksy]

Have fun! :)

[@mikismmds7519]

I'm going to do this now! Updating after

[@FoxyFolksy]

Have fun. :)

[@annyj6323]

Also i dont have any dark food colouring, i use pink lol 🤣

[@FoxyFolksy]

Why not :-)

[@iamaholtel]

Did it work

[@shana1755]

is the black food coloring essential to this recipe? Because whenever I try this I get a oobleck like-substance, not a dough (I am using tapioca flour). It still boils to make boba but the "dough" crumbles easily and is hard to shape.

[@FoxyFolksy]

There are tapioca flour brands they are not do well, because they getting crumbly. If you don`t want the color, sure..no problem...

[@nancytian9174]

It's usually because the water isn't hot enough, or that you put too much water.

[@TheLady2085]

I put dark brown sugar in the hot water but it changed the consistency.

[@FoxyFolksy]

maybe the water is no longer hot if you have to dissolve the sugar in it first.. it has to be boiling hot.

[@samoyed189]

Can I not use the food coloring would it effect the taste?

[@FoxyFolksy]

I use liquid food coloring and it has no effect in taste. Depends on the brand you will use maybe..

[@fuzzySIGNETbuddy]

The hardest part is making them small enough to fit in the straw >:( eternal struggle

[@FoxyFolksy]

true..

[@altaykarabukaev3736]

you can get a bigger straw

[@luketeal1076]

I used a straw to make size and shape

[@RubeeRoja]

I am just amazed that little dough ball can turn into a sweet juice filled bubble.

[@haili8268]

Why does mine turn to newton liquid!

[@FoxyFolksy]

That happened to me when I did not use hot water. It should be boiling hot not warm. Use also a proper measure spoon. Too much water can also cause this.

[@haili8268]

Thx.Noted

[@hoxuan5433]

Me too!!I added hot water but it turns to liquid

[@mappaeliphas8885]

Foxy Folksy I used hot water and same happened

[@kekw5153]

@@FoxyFolksy I couldn't use the water I boiled with the coffee machine so I heat some water in a pan until it's boiling and close the stove and pour the flour in then it works lol

[@solsona7941]

Hi, I really like your videos. I remember emailing you before but anyway this is really a cool video. If you don't mind sharing what software do you use to put video together. Any tips. This would help me in school. Thanks

[@FoxyFolksy]

Hi Sol. We use Abobe Premiere Elements or CC for video editing.

[@hajarafeeka3433]

Can i dissolve brown sugar and then add it as a colouring for the dough instead of food colour???

[@FoxyFolksy]

make sure that you add the brown sugar to the water, boil it and add it while it is very hot. I am not sure it will make it very dark though.

[@stefint9629]

How do I make the pearls sweet?
And what do I use to sweeten them(a syroup?)

[@FoxyFolksy]

You can add a little sugar to the hot water or after they are cooked, soak them in sugar syrup.

[@stefint9629]

@@FoxyFolksy thank you.

[@nurinadaman4614]

You also can use brown sugar as coloring..mix it with hot water

[@goldensunflowerxx]

at what heat should i cook the pearls? pls give answers in Celsius, thanks :)

[@FoxyFolksy]

It should be at boiling point, 100 degrees. 😊

[@queenniequintero3035]

Can i use cassava starch?

[@FoxyFolksy]

Should be the same...

[@hellomi7300]

If I don't want to put food coloring, how much water do I put into the flour?

[@FoxyFolksy]

usually just the same...but you can add a bit more like 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of hot water if it is too crumbly...

[@SanjaySingh-dv1yz]

Can I know why is my dough hard and rough plis reply

[@FoxyFolksy]

Did you use hot boiling water? Add a bit more..

[@selenagoudreault539]

Can I freeze them before boiling them? To make a batch in advance?

[@FoxyFolksy]

you can just let them dry up and store them... maybe freezing could also work...

[@selenagoudreault539]

@@FoxyFolksy i tried the recipe twice with boiling water and it was a flop :( it became a science experiment 😅

[@annisamdyusoff6963]

Can I use glutinous rice flour?

[@FoxyFolksy]

no

[@annisamdyusoff6963]

@@FoxyFolksy thanks

[@okeydokey8392]

In my place too difficult for me to find tapioka flour- can u tell me any else flour fimiliar like tapioka flour can use? Sagu flour can?

[@FoxyFolksy]

look for cassava starch...some use this name...I am not sure about sago flour if it will work the same...

[@sombrero258]

Can i used brown sugar instead of food colour?

[@FoxyFolksy]

I haven't tried it so I cannot really say if it will work as well

[@sombrero258]

@@FoxyFolksy oh... ok thanks for your information

[@ydahere2723]

Can i use another colour instead of the black?

[@FoxyFolksy]

sure..

[@dontmindmejustpassingthrou9203]

Does it taste the same?

[@Azaddiac]

Nope

[@FoxyFolksy]

yes, it does...just like the ones we had from Taipei, they are not sweetened at all...

[@syahirulidham8131]

How much the amount of black color to be use?

[@FoxyFolksy]

i used about 1/4 teaspoon but it may vary depending on the brand

[@zhisunmax5673]

Can I put the pearls in the fridge in order to use them later? Thank you

[@FoxyFolksy]

yes you can, just soak them in some water or syrup...they will change in color, lighter, but you can boil them again to get back the black color.

[@khylacadornacpac-sn815]

If im going to use Cassava flour. Will the 2tbsp of boiling hot water is enough? PS. Im not going to add food coloring too. Thank youuuu

[@FoxyFolksy]

cassava flour is not tapioca flour, so it might not work.

[@kathleenroberto]

Who here loves tapioca pearls?

[@jaiden_3673]

I used regular cornstarch and they're like boba balls but they're not see through or super silky is that okay

[@telepups28]

It's ok I think as long as they are balls and taste a ok

[@cristaleng366]

Galaxy_gacha6432 regular cornstarch doesn’t make tapioca balls only flour/starch supposed to be used is tapioca starch

[@FoxyFolksy]

if you like it then why not?! But like you said it is not the same as tapioca pearls...

[@finnaaalllyyygoddamnn]

Help mine aren't going transparent. Theyve been boiling for ages o.o

[@FoxyFolksy]

Did you use hot (not warm) water to make the dough?

[@finnaaalllyyygoddamnn]

@@FoxyFolksy yeah I think so but its ok it failed so I will try again another time but thank you :)

[@MG-sx8gw]

Mine weren't completely transparent but they were still soft all the way through.
Also, I refrigerated some and boiled them back up, which made them more transparent the second time around.
As long as they're soft and chewy throughout, it shouldn't matter if they're clear or not :)

[@adibahhanum2931]

Catalina Curran after boiling the pearls try to put in cold water

[@brandonjackson7451]

Where can i get the tapioca flour?

[@FoxyFolksy]

supermarkets in the baking section usually

[@fieehh8300]

I use hot water for this. But my dough liquidy

[@FoxyFolksy]

can't be...did you use proper measuring spoons?

[@christinaosuna8509]

I know tapioca flour and cassava flour both come from the same root. The difference is cassava flour is made from the whole root. Do you think I can use cassava flour instead of tapioca flour? My store has only cassava flour. No tapioca flour:/

[@FoxyFolksy]

no it has to be cassva starch a.k.a tapioca flour..

[@limxianren5302]

My dough looks dry and hard to make it into pearl shape. Can I know why?

[@FoxyFolksy]

it could be that the water is not boiling hot and you used too much tapioca flour.

[@sharim605]

If it are dry,try to add a little bit of water to the dough

[@breenise]

Can we use tapioca starch?

[@FoxyFolksy]

yes

[@anikashah5274]

Can I use tapioca starch instead of flour?

[@FoxyFolksy]

it is the same...

[@connierosetorrente3638]

what about cassava powder po pwd po ba sya

[@FoxyFolksy]

if it is cassava starch, pwede but I am not sure if it will work with cassava flour, they are not the same although from same source. I am not sure what is cassava powder though :-) just try and see

[@cikbib8892]

Great videos.. Can i use coffee powder as the coloring?

[@FoxyFolksy]

Why not, and they will taste like coffee too. Dissolve coffee in the hot water.

[@cikbib8892]

@@FoxyFolksy great!

[@camutinnicoligerome4571]

Can I use normal flour?

[@FoxyFolksy]

no...

[@arishasofea4568]

0:18 what color ?

[@FoxyFolksy]

i used black food dye, liquid..

[@cristaleng366]

Colour is completely optional. Black makes it darker (of course) but normal ones are still a dark brown

[@Okikor1]

How did they turn black after cooking them?

[@FoxyFolksy]

I used ¼ teaspoon liquid black food color...

[@ameliadeguzmanwestergaard1295]

In the link of your recipe its wrote 6tbsp tapioca, 2 tbsp freshly boiled water and black color. I followed it and it was failed. Its like dry mud and it was not possible to roll

[@FoxyFolksy]

I think your water is not hot enough, it should be hot like really boiling hot. Once the hot water mix with tapioca starch, it will cook some of it and become sticky that will glue the rest together. It starts a bit crumbly but it should improve as you knead it. If it is too crumbly you may add a little more hot water.

[@annamcnatt6977]

It didnt work for me :(. The tapioca starch when mixed with the water formed into oobleck (the slime you get when you mix water and cornstarch) it was right out of the bag so it was definitely tapioca flour and i even tried the recipe twice. I dont know what went wrong

[@FoxyFolksy]

this happens when the water is not hot enough, it should be hot like really boiling hot. Once the hot water mix with tapioca starch, it will cook some of it and become sticky that will glue the rest together. also, use proper measuring spoons

[@nabihafayez5580]

Can you by any chance use Tapioca starch flour?

[@FoxyFolksy]

it is the same

[@lycheesack]

Which brand black color link?

[@FoxyFolksy]

any...try McCormick...

[@rennichi]

Does it have to have food coloring?

[@Ryan-rj6yj]

Jungkook's money master no but that’s what gives it its black colour. without it it would look unappetising

[@GeneralLudwigSteiner]

No, you can use brown suggar for a brownish, dark color.

[@michelleyan6368]

no u dont the will come out translucent white instead

[@michelleyan6368]

pearl*

[@clarezellechristy]

U can use brown sugar for the color

[@itskaren9392]

Can i use any cornstarch?

[@cristaleng366]

It's Karen! ! No it’s just tapioca starch

[@FoxyFolksy]

Not the same consistency so I will not recommend it...

[@dhasasbag5665]

How much tapioca?

[@FoxyFolksy]

recipe in the description

[@leahmae1716]

How do you store them?

[@FoxyFolksy]

once the balls are formed, you can let them dry up and just cook when needed..

[@FoxyFolksy]

additional info to this...boiling them after drying them takes longer than cooking them fresh...

[@engshuoxi3496]

How many gram for the tapioca starch? I don't have tbspoon same as you....

[@FoxyFolksy]

the ratio is 1:3 of tapioca flour to hot water

[@datfacedoe-_-8825]

what about the sugar???

[@FoxyFolksy]

I did not add sugar because we are trying to cut our sugar consumption and the drink or dessert it goes with usually is sweet enough. But you can add a little sugar if you like. Dissolved in the hot liquid. What others do, is they place the cooked pearls in a sugar syrup to absorb some sweetness.

[@ryanzeus31]

sugar will ruin the texture, add sugar or honey after pearls ready to use...

[@mcurbano1491]

is cassava flour same as tapioca flour?

[@FoxyFolksy]

actually not, same source but different extraction process...I have not used cassava flour so I do not know if it will work the same.

[@mcurbano1491]

Foxy Folksy ohh.. Sadly I couldnt find any tapioca flour here... just cassava flour.. Can you try and do one someday

[@mappaeliphas8885]

Mine keep cracking apart, what's going on?

[@FoxyFolksy]

adjust your water..add a little bit more, like maybe half a teaspoon...

[@caimei26]

Can I use tapioca starch?

[@FoxyFolksy]

yes

[@bhaktiandaru6001]

Why boba always white? Cant we just making White? Please Reply

[@FoxyFolksy]

sure, actually the original tapioca pearls are colorless...

[@rayhan8885]

Used the exact 9 tablespoons of tapioca and 3 tablespoons of hot water, it became crumbly🤔 and cant be kneaded. Did u really use that recipe and did not add anything more?

[@FoxyFolksy]

worked everytime for me... use a proper measuring spoon...if it is too crumbly then adjust water but not so much

[@krishnandu]

feels like this reciepe is fake at 2:00 the balls first sink in and starts cooking and eventually float up, exactly at 2:29 in the jump cut there are no balls floating anymore and all of them have sinked down.. i maybe wrong but it feels fake to me

[@apst1450]

Krishnandu Manna Hi! I am trying to answer as I just made it. First, the recipe is not fake at all. Such phenomenons happen because first they start floating as how dough would react when boiled, but then as time goes by the water reduced and get more sticky caused by the tapioca it self so they couldn’t make the bubble float anymore. That’s based on my experienc

[@FoxyFolksy]

so correct! thanks for answering...

[@FoxyFolksy]

yes only that...if you use boiling hot water it will start to get sticky already because some of the tapioca flour gets cooked and will hold the flour together...you can add just a bit of water if it really is too dry. Make sure you use level measurements and not more...

[@peterportugal3346]

Yung CASAVA FLOUR PWEDE BA

[@yousus9057]

Yess

[@FoxyFolksy]

actually not sure, same source but different extraction process...I have not used cassava flour so I do not know if it will work the same.

[@fanaa1142]

Mine turn to liquid. Howwwwww😭 i use hot water though

[@FoxyFolksy]

please use a proper measuring spoon and water should be boiling hot.

[@cellaaaaalfreddd]

Help. I used hot water but it did not turn out like yours. Also my hands are dyed in food colouring now😭

[@FoxyFolksy]

mine usually wash off with the starch...you can use gloves. make sure the water is boiling hot then mix it first with a spoon before you knead it.

[@cellaaaaalfreddd]

@@FoxyFolksy thanks!!

[@kimbabbkidingomaigosh2192]

how much tapioca flour i need??

[@FoxyFolksy]

please see recipe in the description...

[@aqeelhassim3546]

Mine keeps crumbling

[@FoxyFolksy]

add a bit more hot water...some brands absorb more liquids

[@emily-cd7uk]

Mine turns into oobleck?!!

[@FoxyFolksy]

this happens if the water is not hot. it should be hot like really boiling hot.

[@emily-cd7uk]

@@FoxyFolksy thank you, it worked :)

[@sanjananawosah5422]

Can I use vanilla essence

[@FoxyFolksy]

sure if you want to add flavor...

[@sanjananawosah5422]

@@FoxyFolksy thanks

[@cristaleng366]

Sanjana Nawosah not sure how that would turn out but yeah might give it some flavour. The cook in this video didn’t add sugar

[@bobthebuilder355]

can you use normal flour or corn starch??

[@FoxyFolksy]

No, the correct texture will not be achieved if not using tapioca starch.

[@mitchtuico7287]

You can use also cassava starch

[@sleepx._cat877]

Nope put you can use Cassava starch

[@arkeyamorez4936]

What if cassava starch?its possible

[@FoxyFolksy]

@@arkeyamorez4936 i think this is the same as tapioca flour or starch

[@lorainesalon7691]

With Tapioca starch it doesn't work :') I try it at home

[@jas_1402]

Same I was so dissapointed and sad :")) I thought tapioca starch was the same as tapioca flour

[@cristalcamagong6060]

Loraine Salon
i try twice the
tapioca starch
its a disaster

[@FoxyFolksy]

it can only work with tapioca starch/flour, that is the only ingredient aside from water in making tapioca pearls...

[@olivial9239]

can u make these with rice flour

[@FoxyFolksy]

I do not think so. It has to be tapioca pearls or the consistency will be different... using (sticky) rice flour will give you opaque sticky balls..

[@Zoe-eo8wx]

You didnt even put sugar in it

[@carincallista185]

That brown stuff is diluted sugar

[@FoxyFolksy]

Tapioca Pearls in Taiwan are not sweet at all... there is already enough sugar in milk teas..

[@Marissa880Livegood]

:)

[@hijabiasmr4210]

Can i use cassava starch instead of tapioca?
#newsubscriberhere

[@aleeshamiah936]

Yeah they are the same thing but I'm not sure I recommend this recipe, it's unusual for tapioca to not have sugar because that's what creates that sticky texture.

[@kaykueen4504]

its the same

[@cristaleng366]

Ayessa Razuman I’m not sure but tapioca starch is easily found in most Asian stupermarkerts

[@FoxyFolksy]

Yes... it is the same

[@FoxyFolksy]

actually, that is not true, the ones from Taiwan, known for milk teas, does not have sweet tapioca pearls. It is the tapioca that makes it sticky and chewy not sugar...sugar only makes it sweet...

[@wendybird9781]

Waaaay too much work.. I'll just go to the bubble tea shop !

[@FoxyFolksy]

good for you if you are near one, then. :)

[@wendybird9781]

@@FoxyFolksy Yes I am. 2 minute drive...and there are 7 of them in town now. :)

[@kattwolf2462]

can I use corn starch?

[@FoxyFolksy]

no it will not work.

[@haideelouguerrero5379]

Yup it will

[@syyingem9686]

Excuse me we can use wheat flour right?

[@FoxyFolksy]

Not the same... it has to be tapioca..

[@mirai88dela22]

It will get rough, i've tried make one

[@kristineruth5892]

Can i use cassava starch???

[@FoxyFolksy]

Yes, I think that is the same as tapioca starch...but not cassava flour, that is different.

[@connierosetorrente3638]

what if cassava powder oky lng ba sya or di sya pwd??

[@mirabasuel5257]

How about corn starch?

[@i_am_trusfrated6685]

Can I use cornstarch or flour..??

[@FoxyFolksy]

no, it is not going to work.

[@i_am_trusfrated6685]

@@FoxyFolksy OK..!! Thnx.

[@siennacurry7190]

actually you can use cornstarch but not flour. I recommend a video showing how to use the cornstarch

[@ilhamfatinah3283]

can i use tapioca starch?

[@FoxyFolksy]

yes that is the same as tapioca flour...

[@rubysvlog7412]

Can I use flour?

[@FoxyFolksy]

no, regular flour will not work

[@afrababydoll5031]

@@FoxyFolksy where can we find that?

[@siennacurry7190]

@@afrababydoll5031 you can find tapioca starch on amazon

[@AndraStaMaria]

Can i use rice flour?

[@FoxyFolksy]

no it will not work with rice flour