Popularized in Taiwan, this beverage is made from tapioca pearls, shaved ice, and milk tea. Eventually, boba toppings expanded to the point where milk tea was topped with almond jelly, grass jelly, and more. But is this flavorful drink vegan friendly?
Yes, Boba is vegan. Boba is made from tapioca pearls, which are entirely vegan and made out of sugars, waters, fruit juice, and Alginic acids. Make sure to ask for a dairy-free milk, such as oat, coconut, or almond milk. The best vegan tapioca pearls are WuFunYan Black Sugar Tapioca Pearls, Bolle Premium Tapioca Pearls, and Locca Premium Tapioca Pearls.
In this article, we will explore the nutritional value of boba and highlight top vegan tapioca pearls brands. Let’s dig in!
Contents
Are Tapioca Pearls Healthy?
Tapioca pearls are a calorie-dense but are surprisingly a healthy addition to milk tea, with the milk tea being less healthy than tapioca pearls. Made of a starch extracted from the cassava root, tapioca pearls contain vitamins and benefits that are hard to get from other sources. This has made cassava a staple in many areas in tropical regions.
Nutrition Facts (Per 1/4 of a cup):
- 100 Calories
- 0g Protein
- 0g Fat
- 26g Carbohydrates
- 0g Fiber
- 0g Sugars
Health Benefits of Tapioca Pearls
Tapioca pearls have a great number of health benefits that you wouldn’t normally expect from a sugary drink like milk tea. The boba addition to the drink packs it full of vitamins such as iron and calcium, which are essential building blocks of the body.
Heart Health
Tapioca contains a very low amount of saturated fat, which makes it a perfect snack for those with a predisposition to heart disease. Using this in place of snacks that would normally be high in saturated fat will increase your heart health over time.
Diabetes Control
Tapioca starch has been seen to reduce insulin levels over time. In a study conducted on mice with diabetes, insulin resistance was lower in mice that regularly consumed tapioca starch. With more research, this link could be confirmed.
Digestive Health
Tapioca starch is gluten-free, making it ideal for people with celiac disease. What it is also ideal for is people with digestive issues. Tapioca starch has been shown to be easily digestible as well as providing relief for those with irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive issues upon regular consumption.
Delicious Vegan Boba Combinations
One of the keys to a classic vegan boba combination is simply to remove the dairy elements for each of the teas needed. To do this, simply ask or prepare your milk tea with a thick milk alternative that will give you the same creamy taste as the original.
Classic Milk Tea
Classic milk tea is made by steeping black tea at extremely high temperatures, then adding a milk alternative to give it a sweet flavor and creamy texture. The only thing that you have to do to make this vegan is to ask for a milk alternative rather than whole milk, then you have a plant-based treat that anybody can enjoy.
Nutrition Facts (per 243g):
- 74 Calories
- 29 Calories from Fat
- 3.2g Total Fat
- 1.8g Saturated Fat
- 9.8mg Cholesterol
- 42mg Sodium
- 159mg Potassium
- 8.4g Total Carbohydrates
- 0g Dietary Fiber
- 8.3g Sugars
- 3.1g Protein
Ingredients:
- Black Tea
- Dairy
Lemonade with Boba
One of the lesser-known but still amazing combinations isn’t a tea at all. Rather, lemonade with the sweet chewiness of boba is a top-tier combination that is plant-based without alterations. This can get even healthier if you’re looking for sugar-free lemonade.
Nutrition Facts (Per 8 ounces):
- 99 Calories
- 0.9 Calories from Fat
- 0.1g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0g Polyunsaturated Fat
- 0g Monounsaturated Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 9.9mg Sodium
- 37mg Potassium
- 26g Total Carbohydrates
- 0g Dietary Fiber
- 25g Sugars
- 0.2g Protein
Ingredients:
- Lemons
- Water
- Sugar
Green Tea with Boba
Green tea has a myriad of health benefits, and the immense amount of vitamins will pair well with the benefits of tapioca pearls. With natural sweeteners, this is easily one of the healthiest options of boba combinations that you can get with boba.
Nutrition Facts (Per 245g):
- 2.5g Calories
- 0g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0g Polyunsaturated Fat
- 0g Monounsaturated Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 2.5mg Sodium
- 0g Total Carbohydrates
- 0g Dietary Fiber
- 0g Sugars
- 0.5g Protein
Ingredients:
- Green Tea
- Water
Coffee with Boba
Coffee with boba is the perfect way to mix the benefits of the two together, as well as helping your stomach for those who get a bit sensitive to the effects of coffee. After adding cold brew to your cup of sweet boba, add all the customizations that you want! You can make it as sweet or as bitter as you like, all while being able to keep your drink plant-based.
Nutrition Facts (Per 237g):
- 2.4 Calories
- 0.1g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0g Polyunsaturated Fat
- 0g Monounsaturated Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 4.7mg Sodium
- 0g Total Carbohydrates
- 0g Dietary Fiber
- 0g Sugars
- 0.3g Protein
Ingredients:
- Coffee
- Water
Plant-Based Tapioca Pearl Brands
WuFuYan Black Sugar Flavor Tapioca Pearls
WuFuYans Black Sugar Flavor Tapioca Pearls are completely vegan while coming pre-sweetened. meaning you won’t have to take the time to find out how to sweeten boba pearls before you put them in your drink. Ready in only 5 minutes, this will make an excellent addition to your pantry.
Nutrition Facts (Per 50g):
- 110 Calories
- 0g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0g Polyunsaturated Fat
- 0g Monounsaturated Fat
- 30mg Sodium
- 0g Total Sugars
- 27g Total Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
Ingredients:
- Tapioca Starch
- Water
- Corn Starch
- Caramel
- Guar Gum
- Sodium Diacetate
- Sodium Deydroacetate
- Artificial Flavor
Bolle Premium Tapioca Pearls
Bolles Premium Tapioca Pearls are a great commercially available alternative to a lot of boba brands, which are mostly found through e-commerce. Bolle is available commercially without the risk of animal additives. While it does contain caramel, it doesn’t contain any milk products, making it perfectly safe for vegan consumption. This means they use the vegan alternative to caramel, using plant based options rather than butter and heavy cream.
Nutrition Facts (Per 30g):
- 80 Calories
- 0 Calories from Fat
- 0g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 0mg Sodium
- 19g Total Carbohydrates
- 0g Dietary Fiber
- 7g Protein
Ingredients:
- Tapioca Starch
- Water
- Caramel
- Maple Syrup Flavor
Locca Premium Tapioca Pearls
Loccas Premium Tapioca Pearls come in a pact with three boba straws, a recipe card, and are completely vegan and gluten free. This deal on Amazon is a perfect segue for beginners to start making their boba at home, and comes in an extremely enjoyable brown sugar flavor.
Nutrition Facts (Per 20g):
- 50 Calories
- 0g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0g Cholesterol
- 0g Sodium
- 12g Total Carbohydrates
- 0g Dietary Fiber
- 0g Total Sugars
- 0g Added Sugars
- 0g Protein
Ingredients:
- Tapioca Starch
- Water
- Starch Acetate
- Caramel Color
- Potassium Sorbate
- Lechithin Gum
Bob’s Red Mill Small Pearl Tapioca
Bob’s Red Mill Small Pearl Tapioca is perfect for beginners into the boba industry. Non-GMO, Paleo-Friendly, and vegan, this is a perfect way to make tapioca pudding. This also is an employee owned company, giving the consumer a peace of mind that the employees in this company are being treated ethically.
Nutrition Facts (Per 8g):
- 30 Calories
- 0g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 7g Total Carbohydrates
- 0g Dietary Fiber
- 0g Total Sugars
- 0g Added Sugars
- 0g Protein
Ingredients:
- Tapioca Starch
Related Questions
Are Tapioca Pearls Gluten-Free?
Tapioca Pearls are gluten free, making them a perfect digestive aid to those with celiac and irritable bowel syndrome. Minus the benefits to digestion, there are a massive amount of benefits that people who are gluten-intolerant will be able to enjoy!
Do Tapioca Pearls Contain Carcinogens?
While there are a few new reports claiming that boba pearls contain carcinogens, this was fortunately a scare piece. There have been no studies or indication that tapioca products contain any form of carcinogens, or ant other links to cancer causing ingredients. While some tapioca pearls contain preservatives, a lot of tapioca companies use a single ingredient or a minimal amount, giving consumers a piece of mind.