"Bob Terwilliger" > wrote in message
eb.com...
> Julie wrote:
>
>> We saw a sign for these and daughter wanted to try one. She wanted
>> vanilla. Fine. But then the lady behind the counter asked if she wanted
>> pearls or jelly? I knew what the pearls were so I ordered that. But
>> what
>> is the jelly?
>
> The pearls are made from tapioca or some other starch. The jellies are
> made
> from fairly-hard gels: a bit softer than gummi bears, but along those same
> lines. In terms of taste, the jellies are much more amenable to being
> infused with flavors than the pearls a In fact, the pearls rarely have
> any flavor added to them, while the jellies almost always do.
>
> The gelling agents could be common (such as agar-agar, pectin or gelatin)
> or
> more industrial (such as carrageenan or locust bean gum); they're mainly
> there to provide body and texture and have little or no taste of their own
> (which is why they need to have flavor added). The "boba" jellies are also
> not necessarily spherical; they're commonly sold as cubes, but can also be
> found as stars or strips.
>
> I'm familiar with a chain of bubble-tea shops called Lollicup. There used
> to
> be a Lollicup outlet in my vicinity, and I went there every now and then.
> The store has since closed, but I'm still on their e-mail list, and they
> do
> a thriving mail-order business. (That's where I bought my bottle of Monin
> pistachio syrup.)
>
> I should note that in addition to the tapioca pearls and the jellies, many
> bubble-tea vendors will offer flavored mini mochi (glutinous rice cakes)
> or
> sweetened beans in syrup as additives to your cup of tea.

Thanks!