E-FA BRAND Black Tapioca Pearls (Boba), Quick Cook Tapioca Pearls for Bubble Tea, Microwave Ready in 3 Minutes, Fresh Chewy Texture, Milk Tea & Dessert Topping, Halal Certified, 2.2 LB (Pack of 2)

I bought these black bubble pearls because I wanted an easy way to make bubble tea at home without the usual fuss. The promise of quick cooking and microwave readiness sounded like exactly what I needed for busy weeknights and lazy weekends alike. Day to day, it has been straightforward. The pearls require no constant stirring and there is no clumping, which is a big plus compared with other brands I have tried. After a brief cook and a short rest, they come out soft and chewy and they hold up well in hot tea or milk tea. What stood out most is how reliably chewy they are and that they stay distinct instead of turning to a mushy blob. The texture can be tuned a bit by simmering longer or shorter, which gives me control I appreciate. Also the claim that there is zero loss during cooking, storage, or transport feels right when I keep the bag in the pantry and open it without issues. One small note is that if you have a very specific chew preference you may need a quick round of trial and adjustment, since texture can vary with timing. Beyond that, it is a simple, convenient option for home bubble tea. Overall I am very pleased and would rate it five stars for easy prep and reliable chew.

First let me say that I'm a self-admitted, horrible cook. My husband claims I could screw up a wet dream. Yes, I'm that bad. I'm addicted to bubble tea but wanted to make my own, sugar-free version at home since I'm watching my sugar intake. Though I asked the cafe to hold the added sugar, the syrup was still over-the-top with sweetness. They informed me that they do not offer a sugar-free syrup though they are available. So I had to experiment on my own. Here's my recipe for home-made, sugar-free bubble tea. Steep a green tea bag, cook tapioca pearls per instructions on bag (make sure to rinse thoroughly with cold water after cooking), then add lots of ice and Crystal Light Passion Fruit/Mango liquid to the tea for added flavor and sweetness. It was a delicious success for my first attempt! How wonderful is that for a self-confessed, lousy cook! Now about the tapioca pearls which easily cooked to perfection--the best ever in taste and texture plus very easy to make. Honestly, surprised myself as the consistency of the tapioca rivaled that of the bubble tea cafes. Now I keep a container of cooked tapioca handy for my own version of Crystal Light Passion Fruit/Green Tea bubble tea. Intend on branching out to other flavors of bubble tea using Crystal Light as my sweetener and/or "syrup" base. Please try my recipe if you'd like to enjoy bubble tea without all the calories. I'm tickled to be able to enjoy bubble tea any time of the day now, without having to travel and plus pay high, cafe prices for my fix. For a little more than I pay for one serving of bubble tea at the cafe, I can buy 2 lbs. of this wonderful tapioca which will lend for lots of servings of tea! As for the tapioca, I'm sold on this brand and so happy I did my research before placing my order. You won't be disappointed in the quality, consistency, flavor and texture of these tapioca pearls. They are perfection!

Chewy, clean-tasting, and cooks evenly. Since it’s unsweetened, it absorbs flavors really well. My kids love it, too, so I’ll definitely buy it again.

I was initially concerned about the packaging not being airtight, based on some of the reviews I had read. However, I didn’t experience that issue at all—everything arrived in perfect condition. Once the water is boiling, the boba cooks quickly and starts floating within minutes. Overall, it’s a great option if you’re looking for nearly ready-to-eat boba with minimal prep.

I have tried other boba pearls before (one is in one of my pictures for comparison), but they didn't have the right flavor, texture or size. These E-FA BRAND E8 Boba Black Tapioca Pearls were perfect! They have a really fresh flavor. They cooked up with a wonderful springy, chewy texture - just like the ones at the boba shop I usually go to. They cook up fast! Ignore the instructions on the bag. Use enough water that your pearls will be covered by at least an inch. Once the water is boiling, throw your pearls in and cook until they float - takes about a minute. Test one for texture and cook a bit longer if you need to. Once they are the right texture take them out of the hot water and put in ice water. Let them sit in the water about 5 minutes and then drain. I made matcha boba with honey. I made hot matcha with about 1/4 the water I would normally use. Mixed in honey (used enough to make it sweeter than I would normally have it). Poured it over ice, added a bit of cream, and cold water to get it to the right concentration. It was delicious! The amount of cooked pearls in the bowl in the picture was two scoops (the scoop I have in the picture is equal to about two heaping tablespoons). This was enough for one tea. And as you can see in the picture, it barely put a dent in the amount in the bag. I will be enjoying A LOT of boba tea!

It was amazing

I was a bit skeptical at first, the last time I bought 5 minute boba online, it took 45 minutes to cook them properly. These are the real deal and fantastic! I will be buying more, and probably very soon by how fast I am going through them. My recipe is this: boil water in a pot until it reaches a fast boil, then add the amount of boba you want to cook (I generally want a lot for a mug, so do about 1/3 - 1/2 cup in my second smallest pot), give them a stir after you dump them in. Watch them as this goes very fast. In a bout 1-2 minutes they will all float to the surface, at this point put a lid on the pot and take it off the heat. Keep it covered for 5 minutes for cooked through and chewy boba! If you want less chewy and more melt-in-your-mouth/mushy boba, leave them in the pot with the lid on longer. Drain, and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. At this step you can add a sweetener to the boba or flavor them, or if you don't like them sweetened (like me), just add them to your tea. Very tasty! My package came in great shape and in very good time.

Product arrived on time and was as expected. However $50 for 1lb of boboa seems crazy, if it weren’t for a gift I wouldn’t have bought it. That said, these are great boboas easy to make, good texture etc.

Good but pricey