What are the rice ball things in chinese milk tea?

Question

When I was in China recently I got hooked on these things they call 'milk tea'. You buy then for about 3 yuan on the street.

They are black tea made with lots of milk, and have these balls in them which are cooked in a rice cooker. No one seemed to be able to tell me what the balls were!!

I suspect theyre some form of rice or noodle, but I can't find them anywhere to buy them until I know what they're called!!

Please help!

Answer 1

Tapioca pearls, also known as boba. You can find these at most Asian grocers and if you go to an Asian teahouse, "bubble tea"/"milk tea" is on the menu 99% of the time.

Answer 2

They are not made of rice, they are Tapioca balls. They come in various sizes from tiny balls to large pea sizes. They come in various flavors and colors.

You can find them at most Chinese grocery stores.

Answer 3

we called it 'pearls' in asia. it's originally fr Taiwan 1st. the most famous Pearl Tea. yeh w/ lots of milk in tea then full of pearls in the bottom. my gf like it so much 2 n we hv so many pearl's tea hse aro HK. anyway, they make it w/ flour & a kind of herb. duno exactly...... n nowadays, they produce it in factory but no more home-made.

Answer 4

i don't know what the tea is but the rice balls are called "onigri" i think...or that might be how the japanese say it.

Answer 5

tapioca.

Answer 6

Those are tapioca. You can buy them in a chinese store. They come in a pack. Just soak them in water for a while so they can soften. You can also use them to make other desserts other than milk tea.

Answer 7

They are tapioca balls.  If you're every in a major city where there are Asian communities, they have these Asian starbucks version of tea; coffee and drinks establishments known as "Lollicup" or "Boba" (any use of these names or words are places where you can find this drinks).  Plus, in Asian grocery stores.

Answer 8

They are tapioca balls. I get them in my drink eveytime I go out to a chinese restaurant. They are yummy.