Boba has become overwhelmingly popular, with boba houses popping up everywhere. But is boba vegan? Yes and no. While boba is vegan, not all boba drinks and flavors are vegan.
How do we know if our boba is vegan? First, let’s look at what boba is and where it comes from.
Where does Boba come from?
Boba is made from tapioca starch. Tapioca comes from cassava, a vegetable native to the rainforests of Brazil. Cassava has been grown and eaten for thousands of years. In the 16th century, Portuguese traders brought cassava to Africa. Today, it is a major crop in countries like Nigeria, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Cassava is similar to a potato. If peeled and fried, you can eat it like a potato chip. Grating cassava creates flours and starches, like tapioca. These starches are used to create many different types of breads and dishes and are a diet staple for millions. But what about boba?
Boba pearls came from a Taiwanese tea shop in the 1980s. Boba are slightly chewy bubbles placed in a cold milky tea. The fun, bubbly appearance, and surprising texture created an unusual drink. It was a sensation, quickly becoming a home-run hit in Asia. Over the years, boba has made its way across the world. Today, boba is a fun and tasty treat squarely established in the West.
How is Boba made?
We know that boba comes from plant starch. How do we get from the cassava plant to the boba drink? And can we keep our boba vegan? Let’s take a look!
Grating cassava root pulp creates tapioca starch. The harvested starch then soaks in water for several days. Pressing and sifting the starch removes any remaining impurities. Once these steps are complete, boiling the starch makes a dough. That dough is then kneaded, rolled out, and formed into small round balls or pearls.
Is Flavored Boba Vegan?
Plain boba is 100% vegan but very bland. For flavor, the pearls must simmer in something sweet. Many options are available for sweeteners, but not all of them are vegan-safe. Let’s take a closer look.
Vegan sweeteners:
- Maple syrup
- Vegan-safe flavored syrups
- Agave nectar
- Beet sugar
- Coconut sugar
- Raw sugar
- Vegan-safe caramel
- Fruit
These are all vegan-friendly and will flavor the pearls nicely.
Honey and refined sugar are other options for sweetening boba, but they are not always considered vegan-safe. Some vegans will eat honey, but strict vegans will not. Bone char is occasionally a bleaching agent in the white sugar refining process. Although the char is not in the final product, not all vegans will consume it.
Is Colorful Boba Vegan?
What about colorful boba? Unsweetened tapioca starch is white and becomes translucent when cooked. Boba can become any color with the addition of natural or artificial dyes. Taro root powder or purple yam powder creates a lovely lavender-colored boba. Natural or artificial, most food dyes are vegan-safe.
However, always ask or read labels to be sure your ingredients are vegan-friendly.
Is Bubble Tea Vegan?
We have the vegan pearls; now it is time for bubble tea! Bubble tea, boba, and boba tea are interchangeable. Boba is the name of the pearls, but it has become shorthand for the drink.
So, is our bubble tea vegan?
We know unsweetened boba is completely plant-based and vegan. Sweetened boba remains vegan when simmered in a vegan-friendly sugar base, such as maple syrup or fruit.
But bubble tea contains more than just sweetened boba pearls. Is the drink surrounding the pearls vegan?
Traditionally, bubble tea is milky, contains dairy, and is not vegan. Boba is vegan, but the beverage is not vegan. As a vegan, cow’s milk bubble tea is out. However, there are many tasty options for vegan bubble tea! Plant-based milk alternatives are a perfect vegan substitute.
Vegan-Friendly Milk Options:
- Soy
- Almond
- Oat
- Cashew
- Coconut
- Any non-dairy milk.
You can avoid milk in your bubble tea altogether if you like. Boba is your treat! There are several great options for milk-free vegan boba:
Milk-free Vegan Options:
- Green tea
- Black tea
- Oolong tea
- Cold brew
Yes, coffee fans! There is cold brew boba! All of these make excellent bubble teas and are 100% vegan.
What is Fruit Bubble Tea?
Fruit bubble tea is another vegan-friendly boba option. It is made with either fruit juice or green tea and is usually milk-free. Flavors like peach, mango, and strawberry are popular, although there are many more flavors to try!
The pearls in fruit bubble tea are usually popping boba. Popping boba is still vegan but different from traditional tapioca boba. Popping boba are little liquid-filled spheres surrounded by a seaweed membrane. Instead of being chewy, they burst when squeezed, releasing the fruit juice inside. This is how they got the name Popping Boba!
Boba Toppings
There are almost as many boba toppings as there are boba drinks! Some common vegan-friendly boba toppings:
- Fruit
- Fruit jelly
- Coconut jelly
- Grass jelly
- Coffee jelly
- Aloe
- Chia seeds
- Basil seeds
- Taro paste
- Taro pudding
Other puddings top boba, but most contain milk, eggs, or both. Vegans should avoid eating puddings with animal products. Taro pudding is vegan and okay to consume.
Final Thoughts
So, is boba vegan? Yes, both boba and bubble tea are vegan when milk is plant-based or avoided. There are a few other ingredients to watch for, such as types of sweeteners, coloring, and different toppings that could be non-vegan. But boba and bubble tea are a delicious vegan-friendly treat. So head over to that boba house and enjoy!
FAQs
Is boba healthy?
Tapioca boba is high-calorie and contains almost all carbohydrates. But we have seen that boba is very customizable. Ordering a smaller drink and choosing vegan-friendly options like popping boba and fruit can reduce excess calories and carbs.
Is popping boba vegan?
Popping boba is vegan as long as the surrounding beverage is vegan. Popping boba are fruit juice-filled bubbles inside a thin seaweed membrane. When you squeeze this boba, it bursts and makes a little pop! The seaweed membrane contains no gelatin and is vegan.
Is boba vegan and gluten-free?
Boba is both vegan-safe and gluten-free. However, some add-ons or toppings may contain gluten or animal products, so always ask or read labels to be sure.
Is tapioca boba vegan?
Tapioca boba is vegan! Tapioca comes from the vegetable, cassava. This fact makes tapioca boba completely plant-based and 100% vegan. Be mindful of the sweeteners and flavorings, and you can enjoy tapioca boba worry-free.
Is fruit bubble tea vegan?
Fruit bubble tea is vegan. It is a popular vegan-friendly choice made with fruit juice or tea. It often comes with fruit-flavored or popping boba, which is also vegan-safe.
