However, since tapioca is also available pre-balled, most people don't bother. You can buy it both as boba balls for tea or pearls for pudding, or even as flakes in some places.

Amylopectin makes up about 80 per cent of tapioca starch, and this is the key to why boba is so irresistibly chewy. Preparing boba starts with placing the hard pearls in boiling water. This ...