Those chewy little balls that fill the creamy custard are what give the treat its name. These gel-like tapioca spheres -- or pearls, as they are often called -- are made from the cassava plant.

A boba, or tapioca ball, is an edible translucent sphere produced from tapioca, a starch made from the root of the cassava plant. Starch is a complex carbohydrate that has different proportions of ...

However, you'll likely have to buy boba balls online, as they're not a common grocery store item. You can typically find them ...