Add 1 cup of tapioca pearls to about 10 cups of boiling water and stir.
Once the tapioca pearls begin to float, cover the pot and cook the pearls for 3 minutes on medium heat.Turn off the heat and allow the pearls to sit for 2 more minutes.(Cooking instructions may vary. Cook the tapioca pearls according to your package directions.)
Drain the pearls then scoop them into a bowl of cold water. Let them sit for 20 seconds.
Step 3: Colour the edible water beads
Separate the pearls into small bowls (1 bowl per colour). Add 4 - 5 drops of food colouring to each bowl and stir to mix.Let the edible water beads sit in the colour for 15 minutes.
Rinse the water beads in a fresh bowl of cold water to get rid of any extra food colouring.
Add the edible water beads to a dish or tub for some taste safe sensory play!