What Is Aloe Jelly Boba? (And How To Make It)
If you’re a fan of boba, you must be familiar with the variety of toppings it can be served with. From popping tapioca pearls to grass jelly, egg pudding, cheese foam, fruit jelly, and aloe jelly — there are so many options to choose from!
Aloe jelly isn’t normally available at boba shops, which is why odds are that you may not have heard of or tried this unique boba topping.
So, what is aloe jelly boba and how is it made? Aloe jelly is a refreshing topping usually paired with fruity or plain teas. It is made by mixing the jelly from the leaves of the aloe vera plant with a sweetener.
Read on to find out more about aloe jelly boba, its flavor, texture, how it tastes in comparison to tapioca boba, directions for how to make it, and much more!
What Is Aloe Jelly Boba?
If you’re new to bubble teas or haven’t fully explored the world of boba toppings, it’s fair to assume that you may not know what aloe jelly boba is.
Aloe jelly comes from the gooey insides of the aloe vera plant leaves. The gel is removed once the leaves are cut open, after which it is mixed with some type of sweetener.
Bubble teas use a variety of sweeteners, most of which can be unhealthy. Aloe jelly is a low-calorie option to put in your bubble tea and is great if you are considering having something healthy.
What Does Aloe Jelly Boba Taste Like?
Aloe jelly has an acquired taste — if you are trying it for the first time, chances are that you may not like it very much unless you have a complex and tolerant flavor palate.
Aloe vera can be incredibly bitter, especially without any extra ingredients to mask its flavor. Its bitterness comes from the latex found between the skin and the gel of the leaf.
Aloe jelly boba, on the other hand, has a subtlety sweet and refreshing taste. Without the addition of sweeteners, it tastes almost like nothing.
Loaded with antioxidants and vitamins, aloe jelly is juicy, soft, and delicious — when paired with boba teas and fruit drinks, it tastes good since it is soaked in syrup to reduce the bitterness.
Aloe Jelly Boba Vs Tapioca Boba
Boba tea comes in a variety of flavors and toppings. With so many options to choose from, you could enjoy a new kind of drink every day for a long time!
Although you can get boba without a topping, where’s the fun in that? You can get as many toppings as you like and customize your boba according to your taste and mood.
Tapioca pearls are the most common and popular topping for boba. It’s actually what comes to mind when you picture bubble tea!
Made with tapioca starch, they are simmered until they are chewy and tender, and then they are soaked in a sweetener for flavor.
The choice of sweetener, such as honey, brown sugar, and black sugar, is what gives tapioca boba its unique flavor!
There are three main types of tapioca balls: clear tapioca, black boba pearls, and flavored tapioca pearls.
- Clear tapioca balls are made with water and starch and do not have much flavor.
- Black boba pearls are more flavored and come with brown sugar syrup and caramel.
- Flavored tapioca pearls are flavored with strawberry, mango, honey, green tea, and many other different flavors. You can check your nearest boba shop for all the options available!
Best in combination with milk teas and creamy dessert drinks, tapioca boba is high in calories, ranging from 150 to 200 calories per serving.
Aloe jelly boba is made with clear jellied cubes that come from the gel inside the aloe vera leaves. Best used with fruity drinks or plain tea, aloe jelly pairs well with other jellies or chia seeds without dominating the flavor.
Not as commonly available as tapioca boba, aloe jelly boba is one of the healthiest and lowest calorie options for boba toppings.
It has gained popularity over the years for its long list of health benefits and is a healthier alternative to tapioca boba!
How To Make Aloe Jelly Boba
Aloe jelly isn’t as common as tapioca balls and you may not find it in every boba shop. Luckily, it is very easy to make and can be used as a topping for your favorite boba!
Ingredients
- A few large aloe vera leaves
- Sweetener (honey, sugar, or syrup)
- Water
Instructions
- Get large aloe vera leaves from the market.
- If you have some aloe vera growing in your backyard, you can snip a few leaves near the base and use them for your recipe. Make sure they are large as they will be easier to handle while peeling!
- Wash the leaves thoroughly to get rid of all the dirt and germs.
- Make sure to wash off the oozing yellow liquid, also called aloe latex — not only does it taste bitter, but it can also give you abdominal pain and cramps if consumed.
- Once the leaves are squeaky clean, cut off the edges and chop them into small pieces.
- Soak the pieces in a bowl with cool water for a couple of minutes as it will remove any residual aloe latex, impurities, and slime, plus make them easy to work with.
- Next, use a sharp knife to peel the skin off the leaves without cutting too much of the jelly inside.
- Make sure to make a clean cut as any remaining skin may make the jelly bitter and unappetizing.
- With all the skin taken off of the chopped-up pieces, let them soak once again in a bowl of clean, cool water for a few minutes.
- Dice the gel into smaller pieces so that it is able to fit inside a boba straw.
- Use a strainer to rinse the aloe jelly under running water until all the goo and slime remnants are washed away. In the end, you should be left with little pieces of aloe jelly that resemble small ice cubes.
- If you only want to add texture to your boba, you don’t need to add any sweeteners, but if you want a subtle sweetness, you can sweeten it with honey or sugar. Simply boil the aloe jelly in a small pot with sugar syrup for about 15 minutes to let it absorb the sweetness.
- Once done, you can either store the aloe jelly or add it to your favorite boba and enjoy its unique flavor and texture.
- It is recommended to use it right away to preserve its size and texture, but if you wish to store it for later, you can keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days.
How To Make Aloe Jelly Boba
Ingredients
- A few large aloe vera leaves
- Sweetener (honey, sugar, or syrup)
- Water
Instructions
- Get large aloe vera leaves from the market.
* If you have some aloe vera growing in your backyard, you can snip a few leaves near the base and use them for your recipe. Make sure they are large as they will be easier to handle while peeling! - Wash the leaves thoroughly to get rid of all the dirt and germs.
* Make sure to wash off the oozing yellow liquid, also called aloe latex — not only does it taste bitter, but it can also give you abdominal pain and cramps if consumed. - Once the leaves are squeaky clean, cut off the edges and chop them into small pieces.
- Soak the pieces in a bowl with cool water for a couple of minutes as it will remove any residual aloe latex, impurities, and slime, plus make them easy to work with.
- Next, use a sharp knife to peel the skin off the leaves without cutting too much of the jelly inside.
* Make sure to make a clean cut as any remaining skin may make the jelly bitter and unappetizing. - With all the skin taken off of the chopped-up pieces, let them soak once again in a bowl of clean, cool water for a few minutes.
- Dice the gel into smaller pieces so that it is able to fit inside a boba straw.
- Use a strainer to rinse the aloe jelly under running water until all the goo and slime remnants are washed away. In the end, you should be left with little pieces of aloe jelly that resemble small ice cubes.
- If you only want to add texture to your boba, you don’t need to add any sweeteners, but if you want a subtle sweetness, you can sweeten it with honey or sugar. Simply boil the aloe jelly in a small pot with sugar syrup for about 15 minutes to let it absorb the sweetness.
- Once done, you can either store the aloe jelly or add it to your favorite boba and enjoy its unique flavor and texture.
* It is recommended to use it right away to preserve its size and texture, but if you wish to store it for later, you can keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days.
Other Popular Boba Toppings
There are several boba toppings you can choose from other than tapioca balls and aloe jelly, such as:
- Egg Pudding. Also called sago custard pudding, it is the second most popular boba topping after tapioca pearls and has a custard-like flavor that goes well with creamy milk teas.
- Jelly. Different flavored jellies to choose from, such as grass, strawberry, coffee, coconut, fig, and lychee.
- Red Bean. Also called adzuki beans, this is a debatable option and can be used to add a subtle sweetness and powdery texture to your boba.
- Cheese Foam. Made with milk foam, salt, and cream cheese, cheese foam adds a nice sweet and salty flavor to your drink.
Other less conventional options include chia seeds, ice cream, crushed oats, whipped cream, salted cream, Oreos, rose petals, fresh fruit, taro balls, and sweet potato balls.
Related Questions
Now that you know all about aloe jelly boba and how it is made, here are a few additional questions we thought you might have!
What is boba?
Boba is an umbrella term that can include tapioca pearls as well as the category of drinks sold at boba tea shops. It can refer to anything from a slushy fruit drink to a flavored drink topped with jellies, foam, or Oreos.
Boba tea is also called bubble tea, tapioca milk tea, and pearl milk tea.
What does boba tea taste like?
Classic boba milk teas have a creamy and sweet flavor with the essence of tea. The tapioca pearls add a nice texture and subtle sweetness to the drink.
You can choose from a variety of flavors and enjoy your favorite boba tea the way you like!
Can you freeze tapioca balls?
Yes, freezing is an option if you have too many tapioca balls and wish to store them for later. If handled properly, they will retain their chewy texture for a few months.
Once you make the tapioca balls, allow them to cool and transfer them into a freezer-safe bag. Make sure to squeeze out all the excess air and label them before putting them in the freezer.
