Boba, also known as tapioca pearls, are small,  chewy balls made primarily from tapioca starch,  

a carbohydrate extracted from the cassava root.

To make boba, tapioca starch is  mixed with hot water to form a dough,  

which is then rolled into  small spheres. The pearls  

are typically boiled until they reach  the desired soft and chewy texture.

Some boba may also contain additional ingredients,  

such as sugar or food coloring,  to enhance flavor and appearance.

Boba is most commonly found in bubble tea,  

a popular Taiwanese drink, where it adds a  unique texture and a slightly sweet taste.