Are you up for a fun and filling cherry boba smoothie? Frozen cherries, a banana, cinnamon, and honey blended with coconut milk make a lovely combination with these chewy black tapioca pearls. It’s a perfect fruity breakfast or a midday snack.
If you are familiar with bubble or boba tea, then you know what those pearls are. Right. Those are tapioca pearls or boba. They are called bubbles or just pearls, too. And this black boba is mostly found in milk-based bubble teas.
I like how those pearls look, especially as a contrast in colour and texture in a tea or dessert. They simply stand out and they look beautiful. Instead of using them in a classic bubble tea or coffee, I put them into a smoothie. And not just any smoothie. I combined black boba pearls with the pink cherry smoothie. Gorgeous.
These pearls are simply an add-on to the teas. In fact, they add the thing that everyone loves about bubble tea; the texture. Yes, the texture is the reason for its popularity and not its taste. More, tapioca pearls are mild in flavour, and almost tasteless. Yep, I tasted nothing, just a chewy texture, similar to gummy bears. Wink. Also a fun fact, these pearls don’t contain any gelatine at all. It is all starch.
However, to give the boba some flavour, they are often soaked in brown sugar syrup and then added to the bubble tea. Combining them with any type of fruit helps, too.
Is boba a tapioka or cassava?
Boba pearls are made of tapioca starch that comes from the cassava root. This makes them a good option for those that have allergies to gluten, nuts or grains. More, they are very low in fat, sodium and cholesterol but at the same time rich in carbohydrates. They will keep you full for a long.
These starchy pearls are only five to ten millimeters large. They are sold in a dry form and they might look a bit weird or mouldy. Don’t worry, that is normal. They are only coated in starch, in order to stay separated.
Therefore, they need to be cooked before use. After you cook them, you should strain them under running water, in order to remove all of the excess slimy starch. Now, once they are clean and shiny, is the right time to soak them in a sugar solution for 10 to 15 minutes, if you need a sweeter boba for a bubble tea or as a dessert topping.
The tapioca pearls taste best when cooked “al dente”. Just like the pasta. The perfect tapioca pearl has the right balance between being both chewy and firm. Usually, it takes 10 to 15 minutes until the pearls come out perfectly cooked.
The great thing about boba teas or smoothies is that they are very customizable. In fact, you can combine them with any flavours you like most. Use different fruits and different teas.
In case you need more ideas for a lovely breakfast, be free to check these out: golden milk overnight oats, this lovely green shakshuka, a truffled sunny-side-up egg or these pancake cereals. There’s something for everyone.
Ingredients for 2 portions of cherry boba smoothie:
- 5-6 Tbsp of dried boba/ tapioca pearls
- 1 banana
- 2 tsp of cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp of honey
- 300-400 g frozen cherries
- 400 ml canned coconut milk
To begin, pour 1,5 liter water in a pot and bring to a boil. When the water starts boiling, add the pearls and stir until they float to the top. Turn the heat down to medium-low, cover with a lid and let them simmer for 8 minutes. Stir occasionally in between.
After 8 minutes, turn the heat off and let the pearls sit on a side (still in the pot) for 5 minutes longer.
At this point, drain the pearls and rinse them under cold running water, in order to remove all of the starch. Once the pearls are clean, shiny and at room temperature, place them in a clean bowl with cold water until ready to use.
Place the banana, honey, cinnamon, cherries and coconut milk in the blender. Cover with the lid and blend for 30 seconds until smooth or your desired consistency.
Finally, divide the boba pearls between two cups or glasses and pour the cherry smoothie on top of them. This cherry boba smoothie makes a lovely breakfast, lunch or snack.
Enjoy.
