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Tapioca Pearls

Tapioca pearls are chewy starch-based spheres used in desserts and drinks such as bubble tea.

Tapioca Pearls — illustrative ingredient image

About Tapioca Pearls

Tapioca pearls are rounded pieces formed from cassava starch, usually dried before sale. They are used in sweet puddings, fruit-based desserts, and milk or tea drinks, including the chewy spheres served in bubble tea.

The pearls have a mild flavour. When cooked, they become soft, slippery, and chewy, with a translucent appearance. Cooking time and diameter strongly affect the final texture, so small, large, quick-cooking, and conventional products should not be assumed equivalent.

They range from small beads to large spheres and may be white, cream, or coloured. Some are sold as quick-cooking or pre-cooked products, while others require soaking or boiling. Hydration and heat swell and soften the dried pieces; syrups, dairy, tea, or other accompanying ingredients further alter the finished appearance and texture.

Ingredient type
derived ingredient

Forms & related ingredients

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Where tapioca pearls appears

4 linked foods

Find foods to recognise by country and type. Recipes and products vary; these are recorded ingredient connections.

Showing 1–4 of 4

Desserts

Salads

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for tapioca pearls

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Tapioca pearls

English

Boba

English

dry tapioca pearls

Search alias · Not a confirmed translation

English

Tapioca ou perles du Japon, cru

Search alias · Not a confirmed translation

English

Tapioca, pearl or seed style, boiled, no added fat or salt

Search alias · Not a confirmed translation

English

Tapioca, pearl or seed style, uncooked

Search alias · Not a confirmed translation

English

Tapioca, pearl, dry

Search alias · Not a confirmed translation

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Tapioca Pearls nutrition & diet

Tapioca Pearls nutritional value

Tapioca, pearl, dry

Per 100 g of the edible portion in the recorded food form.

Calories
358kcal
Protein
0.2g
Carbs
88.7g
Fat
0.0g

Reference values for the specific food form shown. Other varieties, brands and preparations can differ.

Portions & preparation

Treat tapioca pearls as a concentrated starch component and consider the serving alongside the beverage or dessert base. Cooking changes firmness and water content; sweetened, colored, filled, or flavored pearls require their own ingredient review. Drain thoroughly after cooking when used in drinks or puddings.

Compare the right form: Match references to cooked tapioca pearls as served, or specify dry uncooked pearls; include size, color, filling, coating, and preparation.

Diet considerations

Tapioca pearls originate from cassava and are plant-derived, but prepared products may include sugar syrups, dairy drinks, gelatin, colorings, or other additions. Compatibility therefore depends on the complete recipe, processing aids, coatings, and the carbohydrate contribution of the portion served.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Not established
  • Vegetarian
    Not established
  • Pescatarian
    Not established
  • Keto
    Not established
  • Paleo
    Not established
  • Low-carb
    Not established
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Vegetarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Pescatarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Keto · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Paleo · Not established
The ingredient form and processing have not been assessed against this dietary pattern.
Low-carb · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: USDA FoodData Central — Tapioca, pearl, dry ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .