Popping boba

Popping boba, also called popping pearls,^[1] is a type of boba used in bubble tea. Unlike traditional boba, which is tapioca-based, popping boba is made using the spherification process that relies on the reaction of sodium alginate and either calcium chloride or calcium lactate. Popping boba has a thin, gel-like skin with juice inside that bursts when squeezed. The ingredients for popping boba generally consist of water, sugar, fruit juice or other flavors, and the ingredients required for spherification.^[2]

In addition to being used in place of traditional boba in bubble tea, it is used in smoothies, slushies and as a topping for frozen yogurt.

Some popular flavors of popping boba include mango, passion fruit, strawberry, green tea, honeydew melon, pomegranate, blueberry, lychee, coconut, raspberry, pineapple, dragon fruit and kiwi.^[3]