SCRF’s popular cookery corner bubbles with joy… and Boba

Sharjah 24: In the late 1980s, a humble tea shop in Taiwan gave birth to what would become a global sensation: Boba Tea. Today, these chewy pearls have percolated into cultures around the world, captivating palates from London to Los Angeles - and, perhaps most fervently, here in the UAE, where the grab-and-go drink enjoys something of a mass following.

Always attuned to what excites and inspires young hearts

The 16th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2025) - always attuned to what excites and inspires young hearts - features this popular drink in one of its much-loved cookery workshops. Children aged 12 and above are invited to learn not just the craft, but the sheer delight of brewing their own Boba Tea.

Boba Tea

On Wednesday, the session opened with Aurora Sitjar, the workshop facilitator from Skilldeer, calling out, “Who has heard of Boba Tea?” A chorus of eager voices replied: “Us!” She followed up with, “Who likes Boba Tea?” - and the response was even louder, underscoring the drink’s extraordinary popularity with the festival’s young audience.

For the uninitiated, Boba - black, glistening tapioca pearls made from cassava root - are the soul of this beverage. During the workshop, children learned to prepare Boba using dried pearls, carefully simmered until translucent and chewy.

Meanwhile, the young participants were handed chocolate syrup to drizzle along the insides of their cups, transforming a simple drink into an edible work of art. Once the pearls were ready, the children faced a delicious dilemma: opt for a classic milk tea, or the fresher, fruitier Boba juice?

Twelve-year-old Hezza Zayan was already planning her Boba comeback. “I love Boba Tea, but we don’t go out as often as I’d like to have it. Now that I know how to make it, I’ll give it a go at home too, and I’ll be able to have it as often as I want,” she said, her eyes alight with newfound culinary confidence.

Workshops like these go beyond recipes - they equip children with life skills, nurture creativity, and foster independence, all under the wider banner of SCRF’s commitment to holistic learning.

This year, the SCRF cookery programme features workshops of recipes from around the world and homemade ice creams to healthy options such as fruit and veggie monsters and popcorn mixes.

Running from April 23 to May 4 at Expo Centre Sharjah, SCRF is a celebration not just of reading, but of curiosity in all its forms. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the event’s rich programme features over 600 interactive workshops, live performances, and hands-on activities. SCRF 2025 invites families to “Dive into Books”, and discover a world where stories leap off the page into every corner of life

For more information on this free-to-attend event, visit www.scrf.ae.