TAPIOCA Meaning and
Definition
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Tapioca is a noun that refers to a starchy substance extracted from the roots of the cassava plant. It is commonly used in cooking, especially in tropical regions, as a thickening agent or as a base ingredient for various dishes and desserts. The word "tapioca" can also be used to describe a specific dish or food product made with this substance.
In its raw form, tapioca appears as a dry, white or off-white powder, resembling a fine flour or starch. It is obtained by grinding the cassava roots into a pulp and then extracting the starch through a process of washing and soaking. This starch is then dried and processed into the distinctive tapioca powder.
When tapioca is cooked, its starch grains absorb liquid and swell, transforming into clear, gelatinous beads. These pearls or balls are a popular ingredient in tapioca pudding, a sweet and creamy dessert often flavored with vanilla, coconut, or fruit. Tapioca pearls can also be used in bubble tea, a popular drink originating from Taiwan that combines the pearls with tea, milk, and flavorings.
Tapioca is valued for its neutral taste and its ability to create a smooth and thick consistency when used in cooking or baking. It is often employed as a substitute for wheat flour in gluten-free recipes or as an alternative thickener for soups, sauces, and pies. Its unique texture and versatility make tapioca an important ingredient in many culinary cultures around the world.
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Cassava starch, amylum manihot; a starch from the root of Jatropha manihot and other species of J., plants of tropical America.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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A farinaceous substance, in the form of coarse grains, obtained from the cassava or manioc plant, a native of Brazil-cassava or manioc is prepared from the same, but more finely granular.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
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Other Common Misspellings for TAPIOCA
Etymology of TAPIOCA
The word "tapioca" has its origins in the Tupi language, spoken by indigenous populations in Brazil. The Tupi word "tipi'óka" refers to the juice obtained from the cassava root, a starchy tuber. This word was eventually adapted and borrowed into Portuguese as "tapioca". From Portuguese, it ultimately entered other languages, including English, referring not only to the juice, but also to the granular starch produced from the root.
Similar spelling words for TAPIOCA
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