Bubble tea has increased in popularity. Naturally, a lot of people might be intimidated about how to make it. So Trader Joe's has made it easier by selling us an Instant Boba Kit right in the freezer section. Best of all, this one kit which contains four servings will only cost you as much as a single boba tea out.
Review
For those of you who have never had or heard of Boba or Bubble tea, it is referring to the tapioca balls found at the bottom of the drink. Boba tea originates from Taiwan and interestingly enough this product is made in Taiwan. The drinks have to be served with a straw large enough to fit those pearls. Often times when I hear people that don't like bubble tea it is because they weren't quite expecting the texture of the bubbles. Bubble tea can come in a variety of flavors.
Trader Joe's went mainstream with these brown sugar tapioca pearls. Brown sugar is a popular flavor and if this catches on maybe we might see other flavors.
The boba is chewy and hard to describe. It's often attributed as having a Q texture to it. And since this is a brown sugar tapioca pearl we are dealing with this is quite sweet. The directions included are on point in the microwave. My pouch was fully thawed, warm, and ready to go. In each pouch, it will give you about an inch of tapioca pearls at the bottom of your glass. My glass was tall but not wide and the wide gauge paper straw had no problems picking up these brown sugar tapioca pearls.
While I'm not wild for paper straws, this didn't disintegrate as I sat and sipped on this brown sugar boba drink. I had low expectations for the straw, but it was fine, and appreciated that it was included in this kit.
Part of the magic of this drink is done for you. The rest depends on what your choice of milk, coffee, or tea is to make this special. The brown sugar boba here adds a depth of sweetness but the surrounding drink will make it stand out.
This item is both vegan and gluten-free. And nutritionally speaking, it doesn't add much. This is mostly just sugar. So think of grabbing a boba tea much like grabbing your favorite Starbucks dessert-like drink.
What was slightly unusual for me was that there was a caramel color added which is very unlike Trader Joe's.
How to make this
The directions were less than ideal on the package especially if you are unfamiliar with boba. So for the visual learners out there, here is how mine was assembled. First, prepare the boba per the directions. Once that is ready add it to a glass. Add ice. Add your favorite milk (tea, coffee, or whatever your heart desires). Pop in the straw and you are done. Give it a quick swirl to make sure you aren't just drinking up the sugar syrup with the chewy tapioca.
Packaging
Within the box, there are four individually wrapped packages of boba. Included are four large paper straws which will allow for the boba to come up the straw easily. Each straw is in paper wrapping.
Where to buy
Trader Joe's Instant Boba Kit is found in the freezer section of Trader Joe's and can only currently be purchased in-store.
Recipe ideas
If you are stumped and need some inspiration on what else you can do with this product then consider the following flavor variations:
Overall
Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Instant Boba Kit again. It made pretty good boba considering these were frozen. The taste and texture were on point considering it was a frozen pre-made item.
If you don't like the texture of tapioca pearls, then leave this item alone.
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe's for a searchable list.
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Trader Joe's Instant Boba Kit
Product Name: Trader Joe's Instant Boba Kit
Product Description: Trader Joe's Instant Boba Kit makes it very easy to have a brown sugar boba drink at home.
Price: $5.49
Currency: USD
Availability: InStoreOnly
Summary
Trader Joe's Instant Boba Kit makes it very easy to enjoy boba at home.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
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Budget-Friendly Boba Fix
For the price of one boba drink at a café, you get four servings at home. That’s serious savings for boba lovers. -
Quick and Convenient
Ready in under a minute—just microwave, add your preferred milk, and enjoy. Perfect for satisfying sudden cravings without leaving the house. -
Customizable Sweetness and Creaminess
You control the sweetness and milk choice. Make it as rich or as light as you like. -
Includes Wide Paper Straws
Comes with four sturdy, wide-gauge paper straws, so you can actually sip the boba instead of fishing it out with a spoon. -
Vegan and Gluten-Free
Great option for those with dietary restrictions or preferences.
Cons
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Texture May Not Appeal to Everyone
The chewy tapioca pearls are a boba essential, but not everyone’s a fan of that squishy bounce. -
Contains Caramel Coloring
Might be a turn-off for ingredient purists looking for an ultra-clean label. -
Limited Flavor Variety
Only available in brown sugar flavor. If you're looking for taro, matcha, or fruity options, you’re out of luck here. -
Not a Complete Drink
The kit provides the boba and syrup, but you’ll need to add your own milk or milk alternative.
Alek says
I can see this being an ice cream topping too. Something new than the usual chocolate/caramel syrup.
I love that they included straws to make it fun. Have a boba tea party with different bases. That would be a fun thing to do. It's nice that it's vegan and GF so everybody can enjoy it.