What's The Best Way To Store Leftover Boba?

When it comes to beverages, nothing is more fun to drink than boba. Often called bubble tea, this drink originated in Taiwan in the late 80s, per CNN. Tu Tsong He is credited with perfecting the recipe by combining a beloved Taiwanese snack from his childhood with green tea. The addition of fen yuan, or tapioca balls, to the tea proved to be a real success and was integral in making the entrepreneur's new tea shop a bona fide hit.

The appeal of boba tea continued to increase during subsequent years and shows no signs of stopping any time soon. A study cited by CNN projects a booming bubble tea industry, with sales figures expected to reach $4.3 billion in just five short years. And while bubble tea recipes continue to expand and grow over time, ensuring there's a flavor and texture for every palate, there's no denying the appeal of the classic boba concoction.

Reader's Digest provides insight into what makes boba so tasty to people all over the globe. While black tea is the most common selection for the base of the drink, other types of tea can also be used. Tea is usually flavored with milk and sugar, although plant-based dairy-free options are available at most tea shops these days. Flavoring can also be infused into the drink by way of different ingredients, such as ice cream, lychee, jelly candy, and many others.

The real stars of boba tea are the tapioca pearls, which are derived from cassava root. The white tapioca pearls get their notable sweet flavor and dark coloring from being boiled in brown sugar syrup, a process that requires great care and experience to get it just right. Proper boiling of the pearls ensures they achieve their jubilant, chewy texture, which is a large part of the fun of drinking boba. In fact, drinking bubble tea is so much fun that many people want to savor the experience for as long as possible.

While it might seem unconscionable to a tried-and-true boba lover, there may come a time when you can't finish your tasty beverage in one sitting. Or, perhaps you want to extend your enjoyment into the next morning, as bubble tea makes an excellent breakfast drink. Heck, maybe you simply made too much boba at home to use in one go.

In this case, Bubblebase offers a few smart tips when it comes to storage. The drink can be placed in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, provided that the beverage has been freshly made. If you don't currently have a lid, place a piece of plastic wrap over the top of the cup to seal it. This will prevent your bubble tea from absorbing unpleasant odors or flavors.

But what about the boba? After all, the pearls are notoriously difficult to keep fresh.

According to Restaurant Supply Drop, the goodness of tapioca pearls may be altered when subject to certain temperature conditions. In this case, it's recommended that you spoon out the pearls to separate them from the beverage. Next, place the pearls into a sealable plastic bag containing simple syrup. This bag can be stored in the freezer for up to 72 hours, as the simple syrup will help the pearls retain their delicious flavor and pleasing texture. When you're ready to add them back to your tea, you can boil them to reheat and soften the tapioca.