How to Make Pearls Bloom

Blooming beads are tiny beads that, after soaking in water, will expand into soft and bouncy marbles. You can soak packaged baking soda or use semolina to make an edible version of this product, also known as tapioca pearls. Blooming seeds are great sensory toys for children, and adults can also use them to relieve stress.

Table of Contents

Soaking packaged blooming seeds

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Buy a packet of blooming seeds at a store or online. Go to a toy or craft store and pick up a pack in your favorite color, or buy a pack in multiple colors. If you plan to make a lot of seeds, you should buy a large package that can hold up to 10,000 seeds to save money. You can also choose to buy packs with 100, 200, or 500 seeds.

If you can’t find blooming seeds in a store, you can buy them online through the company’s website or through Amazon.

Open the seed pack and pour the seeds into a container. Use scissors to cut the blooming seeds, trying not to let the tiny seeds fall to the ground. Carefully pour the entire packet of seeds into a large bowl.

If blooming seeds are dropped on the floor, use a vacuum cleaner to clean them up, then remove the dust collector and dispose of the blooms in it.

Pour into the bowl 1 cup (240 ml) of warm water for every 100 pellets that bloom. Use filtered water to soak the largest beads. Carefully pour the water over the beads in the bowl, do not let the water splash out. Make sure to get enough water for the seeds to bloom, as they will absorb the water and expand in the bowl. ^{[1] X Research Source}

If you want to preserve the blooming seeds for a long time, add a pinch of salt to the water. Hatched seeds won’t grow too big, but will retain water longer.
If you don’t have filtered water, you can still soak the sprouts in plain water. They may hatch less but play is just as fun!

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Soak the seeds in water for at least 4 hours. When soaked in water, the blooming seeds will slowly expand to 100 times their original size. Check once every hour to make sure there is enough water in the bowl. If not, you can add 1 more cup (240 ml) of water. For very large seeds, add more water after 4 hours and leave overnight. ^{[2] X Research Source}

If the seeds don’t bloom very well, it means they haven’t absorbed enough water. You should soak in water until the seeds are fully grown.

Pour the blooms through a sieve to remove the water from the bowl. It is possible that there is still water in the bottom of the bowl after you have soaked the seeds. Pour the whole bowl of the sprouted seeds into the sieve to remove all the water, then pour back into the bowl. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Play with blooming seeds! Let the sprouts flow through your fingers, bounce on the ground or play fun games. If you drop any sprouts on the floor, be sure to pick them up to avoid slipping and falling, as the blooms are very slippery.

Play mini irons. This game requires players to try to roll the blooming seed close to the target marble, such as a cue ball. You can use different colored blooms to distinguish the teams, each team taking turns rolling the target marble.
Try rolling the ball to the center. This game is as simple as drawing a circle on a piece of paper and one by one, people roll the seed in the center of the circle.
Play basketball with friends. You can fold pieces of paper or use paper clips to create a “glossy door”.
Create a playground with obstacles like a miniature gpf field. Challenge your friends to take the blooming seeds all the way around the field with the fewest pushes.
Use different colored blooms to play classic games like marbles or checkers.

Store the blooming seeds in a zippered bag or sealed container. When you’re done playing, store the blooms in a covered container or zip-lock plastic bag. Make sure the seed container is tightly sealed. You can store the blooming seeds for up to a week. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

If the sprouted seeds are dry, don’t worry. You just need to soak them in warm water and they will expand again.
If the sprouted seeds have a musty smell, you must throw them away and soak another packet.

Throw the bloomed seeds in the trash or reuse in the garden. When you’re done playing with seeds, never pour them down the drain. Throw it in the trash or mix it in potting soil so the seeds will bloom to keep the soil moist. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Blooming seeds were originally designed to let water slowly seep into the soil to irrigate plants. When lying on the ground, the seeds will ooze out water and shrivel. You won’t have to water your potted plants as often when mixing the blooming seeds into the soil.

Making pearls with tapioca

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Buy a packet of semolina at the grocery store. Most grocery stores sell semolina. In the US, if it’s hard to find tapioca starch in supermarkets, try looking at Asian markets. Look for inner plastic packages containing round white beads. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

The pearls are often used as food, so young children can put them in their mouths while playing. The granules are usually tasteless, so children probably won’t have any adverse reactions when swallowed.

Boil 4 cups (950 ml) of water. Pour water into a large pot and place the pot over high heat. Cover the pot and wait 10-15 minutes for the water to boil vigorously, then open the package of tapioca powder. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Depending on the size of the pot, the boiling time may be longer or faster. You should pay close attention.

Pour the packet of tapioca starch into the boiling water. Make sure all the semolina seeds are submerged in the water. Use a wooden spoon to stir for 10 seconds so they don’t stick together. Continue to keep on high heat for 1-2 minutes when adding the tapioca flour. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

If the water does not cover all the pearls, add half a cup (120 ml) of water at a time until they are submerged.

Simmer the pearls in water for about 20 minutes. Reduce to medium heat and cook until the tapioca is cooked and expands in the water. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon, but don’t try to separate the seeds that have stuck together. The pearls will come apart on their own after ripening. ^{[9] X Research Source}

When ripe, the pearls look like transparent bubbles with a milky white filling in the middle.

Pour the pearls into the sieve and wash. Pour the pot of pearls through the sieve and turn on the cool running water to rinse. Remember to wash until cool. Steam from the pearls may rise when you wash them with cool water. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Due to the sudden temperature change, be gentle when washing the pearls. If any seeds are broken, simply remove the broken seeds from the sieve.

Play with pearls! This is a great sensory stimulation toy for young children. Have them wash their hands and show them how to hold and touch the pearls, then pour them into the box and let the kids play with the pearls. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Some games for store-bought blooms may not be suitable for home-made pearls. Starches can dry out and leave behind glue-like streaks, so you should take this into account when playing with home-made pearls.
You can try using pearls to create artwork, make bubble tea, play chess with different colors for teams, or play bingo and use pearls to cover the tiles that have been called.

Store pearls for up to 1 week in a refrigerated container. As with most foods, pearls will spoil if left uncovered or left out for too long. You should put the pearls in a zip-lock plastic bag or box and store in the refrigerator for up to a week. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Avoid using these seeds for cooking or as a drink after playing, as it can transfer pathogens and bacteria to the food.

Warning

Do not swallow the blooming seeds. While not poisonous, the seeds that bloom are not meant to be eaten. You should ask your doctor if large quantities of blooming seeds are swallowed.
Do not allow children under 5 years of age to play with sprouted seeds due to the risk of choking.

Steps

Soaking packaged blooming seeds

Making pearls with tapioca

Warning

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