Tapioca Pearls for Bubble Tea

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup sugar syrup 
• 1 cup tapioca pearls 
• 6 cups water cold

Equipment

• sauce pan
• colander

Directions

1. Boil water in medium saucepan.
2. Add the tapioca; return to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and boil gently 30 minutes.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Let tapioca sit 25 minutes in water, covered.
5. Drain and rinse in a colander under cool running water.
6. Pour Sugar Syrup over tapioca; use within 4 to 5 hours.
7. Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan.
8. Add tapioca; return to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer gently 20 minutes.
9. Remove from heat; let sit 15 minutes, covered.
10. Drain and rinse in a colander beneath cool running water.
11. Add Sugar Syrup; place in sealed container. Refrigerate until ready to use.
12. For tea, bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil (use a 4-to-1 ratio of water to tapioca), and add tapioca (1/4 cup per serving). Boil 1 to 3 minutes, or until soft. Rinse and cover with Sugar Syrup to taste.
13. Add tea mixture of choice (see our recipe for Bubble Milk Tea at right).
14. Note: Precooked tapioca should be used within 3 days, or it will get mushy.