Boba can refer to the tapioca balls added to bubble tea, or the bubble tea drink itself.
The tapioca balls are made from the tapioca starch that comes from the cassava root. Boiling water is added to this starch and kneaded to form a dough-like consistency. The dough is then cut and rolled into the bubble shapes. These are added into a boiling mixture of brown sugar and water to finish the product.
The tea is then brewed and cooled and the boba or other toppings are added. All of these ingredients are shaken to produce the bubbles that gave the tea its name.
Boba tea is a very customizable process, and that is part of its popularity. You can choose to alter the level of sugar in your tea, the type of tea you want, and pick from various toppings. Boba can be served hot or cold and some chains have even served frozen variations of the drink. How do you drink your boba?