What's The Difference Between Black And Clear Boba?

As beloved as any good Starbucks iced latte, Eater reports bubble tea was originally made with nothing more than black tea mixed with milk, ice, and its famous tapioca pearls (also fondly known as boba, which gave the drink it's just a commonly used nickname). However, today you can order bubble tea in flavors ranging from chai to brown sugar — which has likely contributed to its growth in popularity in the west. In fact, Reader's Digest reports that in 2019 this sweet tea's market value was around $2 billion. Now, due to its surge in popularity, boba could be worth more than $4 billion when 2027 comes around.

And if you're one of the U.S.'s full-time boba lovers, you may have noticed that whether you order a lavender boba or an original black tea brew for a refreshing treat, the delightful little balls in your drink are sometimes black and other times look crystal clear. So, what's the difference between the two? And will ordering a certain color alter your boba tea experience?

According to Eater, before it splashes into your bubble tea, your boba is created from tapioca starch. However, more surprisingly, this starch actually comes from the cassava plant, which is native to Brazil. Luckily for all of us, this South American plant made its way to Taiwan sometime after 1895 where it would eventually be used to create boba as we know it, per Eater. Food Network reports the difference between black and white tapioca pearls in this boba origin story.

Clear boba is in its simplest form, so it's a chewable starch ball with no flavor. However, black boba is essentially white boba steeped in fancy syrup. As Food Network reports, these little dark delights also come from the cassava root but have been soaked in brown sugar or caramel coloring, giving them a distinctive taste. The outlet notes black boba pearls' "almost licorice flavor" and their signature color. Ordering a drink with black or clear boba does, in fact, affect your bubble tea experience.

There is a reason someone might order a bubble tea that trades out black boba for the clear kind. According to China Sichuan Food, most types of boba will absorb your drink. That being said, when you finish your tea and finally chew on your tapioca pearls, by choosing the black variety, you'll be snacking on a treat that tastes like whatever tea you ordered combined with brown sugar or caramel flavor.

However, asking for clear boba in your drink will do the exact opposite. Because these tapioca pearls don't have a flavor, after soaking in your dessert, they'll likely remind you of a chewable version of your lavender milk tea. So if you think your drink already has a pretty powerful taste, clear boba may be your go-to for this fun sip. But if you'd like some extra "oomph" in your tapioca pearls, black boba is the way to go.