Tapioca

Dadinhos of tapioca, made from the stool or starch of the root of the mandioca

Tapiocas in pans

Tapioca refers to cassava starch made from the root of cassava or cassava (Manihot esculenta), generally prepared in granulated form. This is the main ingredient of some typical Brazilian delicacies, such as beiju, an indigenous delicacy discovered by the Portuguese in Pernambuco in the 16th century.

Likewise, the term tapioca refers to a type of tortilla made with cassava starch, which may or may not be filled.

Etymology

The word has its origin in Tupi Guarani where different words are used for the term depending on the territory: typyak-y, typyoka, typy- o-kui, typyaka or typy-a-kuí.

The term tapioca can be understood as cassava starch, cassava flour, tapioca flour or raw cassava flour.