What Is Popping Boba?
Have you ever ordered a bubble tea and bitten into a pearl, expecting the chewiness you know and love, only to be surprised by a burst of fruity flavor in your mouth? Then you, my friend, must have already tried popping boba! But what is it, and what is popping boba made of, actually? How does it differ from the traditional boba pearl, and what gives it that satisfying pop in your mouth? Popping boba is an excellent topping to try if you haven't already, and in today's article, we're diving into all of its juicy details!
What Is Popping Boba Made of?
Popping boba is another expression of the widely popular boba pearl, which you undoubtedly know and love and has taken the world by storm since the 1990s. While traditional boba pearls are shaped from tapioca starch and then cooked to soft perfection, the process of obtaining popping boba is a little more complicated.
By relying on a chemical process known as spherification and the chemical properties of substances like sodium alginate and a calcium compound, popping boba is created by trapping a tiny burst of fruit juice in a paper-thin layer of jelly. When you bite into it, the juicy goodness encased in the jelly explodes, flooding your mouth with intense flavors, all against the backdrop of your favorite type of tea!
Though it's significantly different from standard boba pearl drinks, popping boba presents a different spin on your beloved beverage, allowing you to enjoy it anew.
Popping Boba – A Rainbow of Flavors in Your Cup
Now, let's skip to the good part - the flavors! If you thought regular boba was an exciting way to spice up your drinking experience, you're in for a treat. Get ready for a flavor explosion!
Because of the way it's made and the ingredients that popping boba is made of, the process behind it allows for essentially any type of juice to be injected into the tiny spheres.
So, how about some lychee popping boba? All the deliciousness of the juice without any of the peeling! There are tons of flavors you could try. Apple, raspberry, grapefruit, pineapple, passion fruit - there's a bountiful world of possibilities ready for you to step into and enjoy in your favorite bubble tea!
Popping Boba vs. Traditional Boba
Let's break down some of the most significant differences between the two, to give you a better idea.
Texture: Traditional tapioca pearls are all about the chew and the contrasting experience of biting and drinking at the same time. Popping boba, however, is more of a split-second burst into delicious juice without much of a satisfying chew.
Flavor Intensity: Popping boba definitely takes the cake here. While traditional boba is more of a slow burn, here, you release the floodgates all at once with every single pop.
Variety: Again, popping boba comes out on top because you can fill it with anything. Traditional boba has some variety in the form of crystal boba, for example, but there's not much beyond that.
The Takeaway
What is popping boba? It's a ball-shaped explosion of flavor that fills your mouth with a juicy injection! Try it today at one of Sharetea's locations in your favorite drinks!
