Ingredients
For 100g tapioca pearls, you need the following equipment, supplies and ingredients.
Equipment and supplies
- Tapioca ladle (to measure the amount of pearls. 1 scoop = 50g)
- Mixing spoon (to prevent the pearls from sticking together)
- Large cooking pot (big enough to fit the amount of water inside as you need 6x more water than pearls)
- Strainer (to drain and rinse the pearls after cooking)
- Ladle to add sugar syrup
- Container to store the cooked pearls in
Ingredients
- 100g tapioca pearls
- 600ml water (proportion of water to tapioca pearls ratio is 6:1)
- 1 – 2 ladles sugar syrup
Method
Our Tapioca pearls come in different flavours, textures and sizes but the cooking/preparation process itself is simple: cook, rest, rinse, and add sugar syrup.
The 5-step process of cooking tapioca pearls
1. Boil Water
You should make sure you boil enough water in a large cooking pot. The proportion of water to tapioca pearls is 6:1, so per 100g of pearls you should boil 600ml of water.
2. Add Tapioca Pearls
Once the water is boiling, add the tapioca pearls and gently stir to separate them. Continue to gently stir until all the pearls start to float at the surface of the water, then reduce the heat to medium.
3. Cook & Rest
- Regular Tapioca Pearls: Boil for 20 minutes, then remove from heat and let sit for another 20 minutes with the lid on.
- Quick-Cook Tapioca Pearls: Boil for 5 minutes, then let sit for another 5 minutes.
During the resting period, the pearls will absorb water, softening to their authentic chewy consistency.
4. Rinse & Drain
Once the pearls are cooked, drain the hot water from the pot and rinse pearls with cool water. This removes the excess starch that might cause clumping and sticking.
5. Soak in Sugar Syrup
Once rinsed, put the tapioca pearls in a bowl and cover them with a sugar syrup like brown sugar syrup (you can also choose hazelnut or honey flavoured syrup). This step enhances the taste and prevents the pearls from drying out or sticking together. You can adjust the sweetness by adding more or less syrup based on your preference.
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Tips for Achieving the Perfect Consistency
Cooking tapioca pearls to the right texture can be tricky. Here are some tips to help you achieve a perfectly chewy consistency.
Before cooking
All you have to do before cooking the pearls, is nothing. No need to wash the pearls or any of that. Just add them straight to boiling water.
Water temperature
It’s important to add the pearls only when the water is at a full rolling boil. Once the pearls start floating to the surface, reduce the heat to medium. At the end of the cooking period, turn off the heat and allow the pearls to rest for the recommended time to achieve the best consistency.
Recommended cooking time vs personal preference
Our regular tapioca pearls have a recommended cooking time of 20 minutes, followed by a 20-minute resting period. For our quick-cook brown sugar pearls, the suggested cooking and resting time is 5 minutes each. Our instant pearls can be heated either in the microwave or on the stove for 1 to 2 minutes. These times are designed to give the pearls their ideal chewy texture.
These are general recommendations, and you are free to adjust them based on your personal preference. If you prefer softer pearls, you can extend the cooking or resting period by a few minutes. Conversely, if you like them chewier, a slightly shorter boil may give you the texture you enjoy most.
No matter which brand you pick for your tapioca pearls, always look on the packaging what the recommended cooking and resting times are. Afterwards, feel free to adjust to your liking.
Not sure which pearls to choose? The video below helps you pick the right tapioca pearls for your shop.
How to store tapioca pearls
Uncooked tapioca pearls in an unopened bag can be stored for six to twelve months if kept in a cool and dry place. Once you have opened a bag of uncooked pearls, it is best to cook them within three days. Cooked tapioca pearls can be stored for up to four hours when submerged in room-temperature sugar syrup, as after this time their texture and chewiness will no longer be optimal.
Conclusion
How to cook tapioca pearls is simple: boil, rest, rinse, and soak in sugar syrup. Regular pearls are boiled for 20 minutes and rested for 20 minutes, quick-cook pearls are boiled and rested for 5 minutes each, and instant pearls only need 1 to 2 minutes on the stove or in the microwave. Following these recommended times will give the perfect chewy texture, though you can adjust slightly based on your preference.
With a little practice, you can prepare bubble tea, dessert toppings, or sweet treats that meet the high standards your customers expect. Remember to store your pearls properly and use them fresh for the best taste and texture. Now that you know how to cook tapioca pearls, you can create drinks and desserts that will delight every customer.