Bubble Tea Supplies

Tapioca pearls are chewy balls made from cassava (tapioca) starch, usually black from brown sugar, that must be boiled before serving. Bursting or popping boba are small spheres of fruit juice inside a thin gel skin made with seaweed extract (alginate); they are sold ready to use and burst with juice when bitten. Tapioca pearls suit classic milk tea, while bursting boba suit fruit teas, slushes and frozen yogurt.

Cooked tapioca pearls are best within about 4 hours and are usually made in small batches through the day. After that they harden as the starch sets, and they should not be refrigerated, which makes them hard faster. Most shops cook pearls, rinse them, then hold them in a light sugar or brown sugar syrup at room temperature. Unopened bursting boba keep for months; once opened, refrigerate them in their syrup and use within the time on the label.

Classic Taiwanese milk tea is made with a strong black tea, often Assam, brewed stronger than for drinking straight so it stands up to milk, sugar and ice. Jasmine green tea is the usual base for fruit teas and lighter milk teas, and oolong gives a roasted, nutty flavour. A common shop method is to brew loose leaf tea at about 2 to 3 times normal strength, strain, and hold the tea for up to about 4 hours.

A typical serving is about 40 to 60 g of tapioca pearls or bursting boba per 16 to 24 oz drink, roughly 2 to 4 tablespoons. A 3.2 kg (7 lb) container of bursting boba therefore makes roughly 55 to 80 drinks. Many shops sell extra toppings as a paid add-on, so portioning with a set scoop keeps cost per drink steady.

Bubble tea can contain several priority allergens. Milk teas contain milk unless made with a plant-based milk, many creamer powders contain milk ingredients, and some toppings contain wheat, soy, eggs or nuts. Tapioca pearls themselves are made from cassava and are naturally gluten-free, but check each product label. Keep the ingredient list for every powder, syrup and topping on hand so staff can answer allergy questions.

Shipping is a flat $16.50 anywhere in Canada and free on orders over $199 before tax. Orders are processed in 2 to 3 business days (cut-off 10:00 AM MST, Monday to Friday) and Canadian transit takes 2 to 6 business days. We also ship to the United States, with duties and taxes shown at checkout. See the Shipping page for full details.