Water Boba – What Is It and How to Make It?
Care for a sweet drink that's unlike anything you've ever tasted? Water boba may just be the thing you need! But first – check out what it is, what makes it so special, and how you prepare it at home. All this info can be found in our short guide to water boba!
What's water boba?
Ever had a cup of delicious bubble tea?
The popping pearls that can be found there are what we call "boba" – a jelly-like topping that's made from agar instead of traditional tapioca. Unlike regular boba, water boba is very light, calorie-friendly, and has a delicate, crunchy texture – unlike tapioca pearls, which tend to have a pretty chewy consistency.
It's usually flavorless but can absorb the flavors of the drink or syrup that you pair it with (more on the serving suggestions later!).
Water boba is perfect for hot summer days when you need a refreshing drink that's a little more creative than water but lighter and less packed with calories than soda. It's also very fun-looking, especially when used in colorful beverages.
Water boba – why all the craze
If you've never heard of water boba until now, chances are, it's going to change pretty soon. The delicious drink is becoming more and more popular – especially among younger people and Tik-Tokers. What makes it so beloved? There are a couple of reasons!
It's refreshing
It looks really fun
It's relatively healthy (when used without sugar or artificial flavors)
It's vegan and gluten-free
It's perfect for Instagram pics
It's very versatile and pairs great with fruits
How to make water boba?
While making water boba isn't the most difficult thing in the world, mastering the recipe can take some practice. First, let's start with what you'll need, aka the ingredients for water boba.
The number one thing, obviously, is to get yourself a big glass of water. You'll also need some agar powder, sugar, food coloring, and a cold vegetable oil. What you'll do next is prepare the mixture by dissolving the agar powder in water and boiling it together. At this point, you can add some flavor or sugar if that's what you're in the mood for.
Then, let the mixture cool to a warm but pourable consistency.
Because the next step is… to form the pearls! Take your mixture and pour the droplets (through a dropper or other similar tool) into the cold vegetable oil. The cold oil solidifies the droplets into boba shapes.
After that's done, strain the pearls and rinse them in cold water to remove excess oil.
Water boba – serving suggestion
You know how to make water boba – but how do you serve water boba? Here are some ideas that can get you inspired!
Fruit tea: Add water boba to iced fruit teas like peach, mango, or lemon for a refreshing twist.
Milk tea: Pair it with milk tea for a lighter, crunchier alternative to tapioca pearls.
Sparkling water: Mix it with flavored sparkling water for a fun, fizzy drink.
Juice: Drop water boba into orange or apple juice for a playful and colorful touch.
Layered drinks: Create a layered drink with syrup, milk, and tea, then add water boba for decoration.
The takeaway
Water boba is a fun alternative to regular drinks – especially in the summer. Now that you know how to make water boba and what to best pair it with, it may be time to head down to the kitchen and start experimenting with ingredients. But if you're feeling a little lazy (we can't blame you!), you can always just visit one of your local Sharetea shops for a refreshing and delicious cup!
Read also: how to make fruit tea for boba.
