Tapioca pearls, also known as boba pearls, are small, chewy balls made from tapioca starch, which is derived from the cassava root. They are typically black in color and are used in bubble tea, a popular Taiwanese drink. Tapioca pearls are made by mixing tapioca starch with boiling water until a kneadable consistency is achieved, then cutting and rolling the dough into a spherical shape. They are commonly soaked in sugar syrup to make them sweet and chewy, and are often added to teas for their texture, with the flavor being provided by the drink itself. Tapioca pearls have very little taste on their own, but can be made sweeter by adding sugar to the dough or steeping them in a caramel syrup. They are used in a wide variety of dishes and drinks, including tapioca pudding, bilo-bilo, binignit, es campur, es doger, and halo-halo, among others. While tapioca pearls are calorie-dense and have very little nutritional value, they are generally safe to consume in moderation.