Boba pearls, also known as tapioca pearls, are small chewy balls that are an essential element of bubble tea. They are typically black in color and made from tapioca starch that comes from the cassava root. Tapioca pearls are typically five to ten millimeters in diameter and can be made to vary in color and texture by adding different ingredients like water, sugar, or some other type of sweetener like honey. The pearls are soaked in sugar syrup to make them sweet and chewy, and they are often added to teas for their texture, with the flavor being provided by the drink itself. Boba pearls are vegan-friendly since they do not contain gelatin, which is made from the bones, skin, ligaments, and tendons of dead animals such as cows, pigs, and fish.