If you’ve been wondering how to make keto boba pearls for bubble tea wonder no more — this keto boba recipe is the answer to your prayers.
While there are plenty of low-carb dessert recipes out there, finding ways to spice up your keto diet with untraditional recipes is half the fun. That’s what this keto-friendly, gluten-free, and paleo treat offers — untraditional fun.
This low-carb boba is:
- Chewy
- Refreshing
- Delicious
The main ingredients are:
- Gelatin
- Coffee
- Oil
Optional additional ingredients:
Health Benefits of Keto Boba Tea
Same Taste, Zero Sugar
Most boba tea out there is loaded with added sugar — that’s one of the reasons this Taiwanese treat has become so popular. However, true to keto fashion, this version of ketogenic boba is sugar-free, and zero carbs — blood sugar heaven.
If you want to sweetener your tea, no worries — you can add some keto-friendly sweeteners like, swerve, monk fruit, or stevia.
Promotes Brain Health
Having a cup of coffee can wake you up and make you feel more alert — but boba tea takes it to the next level.
That’s because gelatin, used to make the boba pearls, is a rich source of the amino acid glycine. Glycine is a brain-supportive nutrient that can help promote restful sleep and support neurological function in general[*].
What is Boba?
Boba tea (also known as bubble tea) originated in Taiwan during the 1980s and has made its way into the Western world over the past ten years or so. Boba itself is the large chewy balls (traditionally tapioca pearls) that are added to the tea.
The boba balls (or pearls) have very little flavor, but boba tea can come in a wide variety of flavors, typically coming from syrups. Boba is traditionally made with black tea, green tea, or oolong tea — but this recipe switches it up and makes the “tea” with coffee, because why not?
If you’re more a fan of matcha or chai tea, those also work great.
Keto Boba Tea
How To Make Keto Boba Tea
Ready to give this keto boba tea recipe a shot?
Start by preparing your coffee, then set it aside.
Grab a medium pot and pour in your coffee, then dissolve the gelatin into the coffee while stirring to combine.
Add the pot to your burner over medium heat, and continue to stir until it reaches a boil and begins to thicken slightly.
Remove the pot from heat and allow it to cool for three to five minutes.
Next, using a large syringe, soak up the mixture and gently add small drops of the mixture into cold oil, gently stirring to make sure the pearls don’t stick together.
Use a large bowl and a colander to drain the pearls and reserve the oil for later use.
Finally, pour the pearls into a large bowl filled with cold water, drain, and continue until all remaining oil is off the pearls.
Add your boba to coffee, tea, or whatever beverage calls to you. If you like it cold, add some ice cubes, and you’re ready to go.
Alternative Way To Make Boba Pearls
If you don’t want to mess with the oil, there is a short-cut method to making boba pearls that work almost as well.
Instead of dropping the gelatin mixture in oil, you can use a dropper to fill a few small mini ice ball molds and refrigerate them for 2 hours. Gently pop the pearls out and add them to your beverage.
PrintEasy Keto Boba
Whip up some keto boba pearls for bubble tea and use them in a low-carb chai tea, matcha, black tea, coffee, or whatever beverage your heart desires.
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup coffee
- 2 tablespoons beef gelatin
- 2 cups neutral oil, chilled in the freezer for 1–2 hours (*see notes*)
- Cold water
Instructions
- In a medium pot, dissolve the gelatin into the coffee, stirring to combine.
- Heat pot over medium heat, stirring until it reaches a boil and thickens slightly.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool for 3-5 minutes
- Use a large syringe to soak up the mixture.
- Gently do small drops of the mixture into very cold oil, gently stirring to make sure the pearls don’t stick together.
- Use a large bowl and a colander to drain the pearls and reserve the oil for later use.
- Pour the pearls into a large bowl filled with cold water, drain, and continue until all remaining oil is off the pearls.
- Use immediately, or put into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Save for later or use in Thai Iced Tea or Vietnamese Iced Coffee.
Notes: if you don’t have a neutral oil or want to use oil, you can omit steps 5-7 and instead, use a dropper to fill a few small mini ice ball molds and refrigerate for 2 hours. Gently pop the pearls out and continue to step 8.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 13
- Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 0g (Net: 0g)
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 3g