What Are The Popping Bubbles In Bubble Tea?‍

Popping bubbles, also referred to as popping bobas, are small balls filled with fruit juice that ‘pop’ when bitten into. They are made from seaweed extract and come in a variety of flavours such as lychee, apple, strawberry, mango, passion fruit, orange and much more. Popping bubbles are a great way to add a bit of fun to your beverage… It's almost like having a party in your drink! 

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How are popping bubbles made?

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Popping bubbles are made from a trendy new way of cooking called "Molecular Gastronomy”. The flavoured juices that contain no calcium are mixed with a small amount of sodium alginate which are then dropped into a container filled with cold calcium chloride solution. Each drop of the alginate liquid forms into a small ball in the calcium solution, causing the formation of a thin, flexible skin.

The ingredients for popping bubbles consist of water, sugar, fruit juice, sugar, calcium lactate, seaweed extract, malic acid, potassium sorbate, artificial colouring and seaweed extracts which form the outer shell.

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Popping bubbles (BOBA) Vs Tapioca pearls

Another topping found in bubble tea are tapioca pearls - black translucent balls from tapioca, a starch extracted from the cassava root. Both tapioca pearls and popping bubbles are popular toppings in bubble tea, but they have their differences in terms of flavour and texture. 

Texture

Tapioca pearls are chewy while popping pearls quickly pops when bitten, mixing with other flavours. Popping bubbles are typically the more exciting option, especially for kids, as the quickly bursting bubbles add a fun layer of flavour to the drink.  

Flavour

Sweetened with honey or sugar, tapioca pearls provide a sweet aftertaste as you chew them while the quickly bursting popping pearls instantly add a layer of flavour to the bubble tea. 

Because of their neutral flavours, tapioca pearls can be paired with any flavour of drink. Popping bubbles, on the other hand, with their large array of flavours, must be paired with the same or complementary flavour. 

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The availability of different flavours allow for many choices. Discover our wide selection of flavours on our menu.

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We are Bubblebase: Wales’ first Bubble Tea Bar. We believe in using the best quality of ingredients to consistently serve our customers with a delicious range of drinks that have not only been created with utmost care, but also with the sharpest appearance.

Order online with our exclusive Bubblebase app and earn 9 stamps free when you register! Or place your order through our delivery partners and get Bubblebase delivered right to your doorstep. 

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Written by Kate, for Bubblebase.