Battle of the Bubbles: Popping Boba vs Tapioca

Tapioca pearls have become incredibly popular because of the rapid increase in demand for bubble tea. Popping boba is very similar to tapioca pearls because they are used in bubble tea as toppings or add-ons, and you might find it hard to tell them apart.

Tapioca pearls are not to be mistaken for popping boba. Tapioca pearls have a chewy texture and always come in a deep black color. Meanwhile, popping boba are colored, non-chewy balls that burst when consumed, thus its name. It's also known under many names such as bursting boba, popping bubbles, juice balls, and bursting bubbles.

Popping boba is going mainstream nowadays, being offered by not only bubble tea shops, but also some popular food chains as a topping for their beverages. Although the most common drink popping boba is served with is bubble tea or milk tea, it is not the only drink that can be combined with it. It is versatile and may be mixed in yogurt, smoothies, pancakes, and muffins.

There are many advantages of popping boba over tapioca pearls. One of them is the variety of flavors that popping boba can offer compared to its plain counterpart. This is because they are filled with fruit juice, while tapioca pearls are made with starch. So this does not only satisfy the customer’s taste buds but also offers them a fun experience. Thus, it can be promoted easily and has an enormous potential of being largely marketable, especially for younger customers. These juices are stored within the popping boba waiting for the moment you put it in your mouth and surprise you with an explosion of fruitful flavors!

Another advantage is that popping boba is that it's usually packed in a container and can be immediately taken out of it and consumed right away as a topping with no preparations needed. Meanwhile, tapioca pearls need to be cooked first before being served, thus taking more time to prepare than popping boba.

Using popping boba over tapioca pearls has its perks, however, it is still a matter of preference. There is no 'objectively better' topping because it is still up to you to choose. And hopefully, this post has helped you choose.