Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients & Tools
Ingredients (Basic Recipe – Makes ~¾ cup boba pearls):
Juice Mixture:
- 1 cup fruit juice (strained, no pulp – e.g. watermelon, mango, lychee, passionfruit)
- 1–2 Tbsp sugar or sweetener (optional, depending on juice sweetness)
- ½ tsp sodium alginate
- Optional: gel food colouring or flavour extract (to enhance colour or flavour)
Calcium Bath:
- 2 cups cold water
- 1 tsp calcium lactate or calcium chloride
Tools You’ll Need:
- 2 bowls (one for the calcium bath, one for a plain water rinse)
- Squeeze bottle, dropper, or syringe
- Fine mesh strainer or slotted spoon
- Extra bowl of cold water (to rinse boba and stop reaction)
Instructions
Step-by-Step Instructions
Let’s break it down into simple steps — no advanced lab skills required!
1: Prepare the Juice Mixture
- Pour 1 cup of fruit juice into a blender or mixing cup.
– Make sure it is well-strained and free of pulp, which can affect consistency. - Add 1–2 Tbsp sugar or sweetener, if desired. Blend or stir to dissolve.
- Sprinkle in ½ tsp sodium alginate slowly while blending to prevent clumping.
- Blend for about 30 seconds until fully combined.
Let this mixture sit for at least 15–30 minutes to remove air bubbles.
2: Prepare the Calcium Bath
- In a clean bowl, combine 2 cups cold water with 1 tsp calcium lactate or calcium chloride.
- Stir until fully dissolved. This is your activation bath.
3: Drop & Spherify!
- Fill a squeeze bottle, dropper, or syringe with your juice mixture.
- Slowly squeeze small drops into the calcium bath, one by one.
- Watch the magic happen — each drop turns into a perfect little sphere within seconds!
Tip: Move the dropper close to the surface to prevent splashes or misshaped pearls.
4: Let Them Set
- Let the pearls sit in the bath for 30–60 seconds.
- The longer they stay, the thicker the outer “skin” will become.
- For thin-shelled popping boba, stick to 30 seconds.
5: Strain and Rinse
- Use a slotted spoon or fine mesh strainer to scoop out the pearls.
- Immediately transfer to a bowl of cold water to rinse off excess calcium.
- Swirl gently, then drain.
6: Store or Serve
- Use popping boba immediately in drinks or desserts
- Or store in a light sugar syrup in the fridge for up to 24–48 hours
- Avoid long-term storage as the texture will degrade
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Alginate Resting Time: 15–30 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: 35
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Protein: 0 g