View source for Tapioca

[[File:Tepung casava.jpg|thumb|Tapioca starch]]
'''Tapioca''' ({{IPA-pt|tapiˈɔkɐ}}) is a [[starch]] extracted from [[cassava]] root (''Manihot esculenta''). This species is native to the [[North Region, Brazil|North Region]] of Brazil, but spread throughout the South American continent. The plant was carried by [[Colonial Brazil|Portuguese]] and [[Spanish Empire|Spanish]] explorers to most of the West Indies, and continents of Africa and Asia, including the [[Philippines]] and [[Taiwan]]. It is now cultivated worldwide.
== Uses ==
Tapioca starch has been used to make some foods, such as [[pão de queijo]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-06-25|title=Pão de queijo is the history of Brazil in a moreish cheese snack|url=http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/jun/25/pao-de-queijo-is-the-history-of-brazil-in-a-moreish-cheese-snack|access-date=2021-05-24|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

== Tapioca Media ==
<gallery widths='160px' heights='100%' mode='traditional' caption=''>
File:Manihot esculenta dsc07325.jpg|La mandioca: uno de los productos principales de San José de los Arroyos

File:Biji delima pacar china.JPG|Colored, translucent tapioca sticks

File:Spicy and Non Spicy Tapioca Chips.jpeg|Spicy and non-spicy [[tapioca chips]]

File:Elaboraciondelcasabe.jpg|Casabe baking in a small commercial bakery

File:Bubble_Tea.png|[[Bubble tea|Bubble milk tea]] with tapioca pearls

File:Sabudana in bowl.jpg|Sabudana in bowl

File:Tapioca-1.jpg|Small, opaque pearl tapioca before soaking

File:Tapioca do Alto da Sé - Olinda-PE.jpg|Beiju, Brazilian tapioca flatbread of Alto da Sé, in [[Olinda]], [[Pernambuco]].

File:Tapioca22.jpg|:Tapioca
</gallery>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Food-stub}}

[[Category:Starch]]
[[Category:Food ingredients]]