WHAT IS TAPIOCA AND WHY IS IT USED IN BUBBLE TEA?

 

Tasty and delicious Tasty and delicious, tapioca is the principal component in the well-known tapioca pearls. These pearls are also identified as the signature "bubbles" that make up your favorite bubbly drink bubbly tea.

That's right tapioca makes your boba bubbles have their distinctive sweetness and distinctive taste that we have come to recognize and enjoy!

But that's not the only reason to enjoy this sweet snack.

It's not surprising that the subject of tapioca lies at the forefront of a discussion between those who claim that it's got numerous health benefits, and those who assert that it's detrimental.

The majority of it is carbohydrates, tapioca is an extremely filling and heavy food that has a much deeper history than you believe. In addition to its use in our favorite drink, tapioca is often utilized to thicken the drink especially in tapioca pudding however, it is also used in various other recipes, like soups and pie.

This ingredient is an essential element in our recipe and today, we're providing more details about the unique story behind its origins to give context to the reason it is such an important ingredient in our.

This article will explain the basics of tapioca the process of making it, as well as its possible benefits.

Let's get going!

WHAT IS TAPIOCA?

Tapioca is a type of starch that is extracted from the root of cassava which is also referred to as yuca in some regions. Cassava is a sweet and nutty vegetable that is used in a variety of dishes and foods around the globe.

Cassava root was first consumed and grown in areas of tropical South America and the West Indies. The commercialization of cassava roots started within Latin America in the late 18th century and then spread to other parts of the world including Africa as well as Asia.

Since it was first introduced, it has since expanded to include China, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and India as a vital product that earns money for small and large-scale farmers, producers and traders.

In fact, it is grown by more than eight million people across Asia which has made it one of the most important crops that support rural communities' economics.

Farmers are impressed by how easy growing the plant is as it requires only a few nutrients and is harvested in a short time. It's also extremely versatile and is able to be used as a component in many various dishes, such as soups, cakes, and obviously, of course our own personal choice - the tapioca pearls or balls that are infused with delicious bubble tea!

In the end, tapioca starch is extracted from the cassava root in order to produce tapioca flour or powder. Our distinctive recipes utilize the thickening power of tapioca starch to be the main ingredient in our delicious, homemade boba pearls that we make for our many sparkling teas.

Tapioca has seen a recent increase in popularity due to the fact that it's a gluten-free alternative that can be utilized as a thickening agent in lieu of other fillers made from wheat that can be harmful for people with Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance.

HOW IS TAPIOCA MADE?

If you're looking to learn about making tapioca the method of production will differ according to the region. However, the basic process is squeeze the starchy liquid out of the roots of cassava.

After the starch in tapioca liquid is removed, the starch will evaporate and leave an extremely fine, fine tapioca starch.

The powder is then processed into any form that is suitable to make the recipe work like particles or, for the purpose of our purposes, boba pearls to make bubble tea.

Pearl tapioca is the most popular method used to make the boba pearls and tapioca dessert along with other desserts. Because of the process of dehydration the pearls or flakes require soaking or cooked prior to consumption.

As you probably already know, tapioca pearls are generally cooked in water and coated in sugar syrup prior to being placed in the bottom of favorite bubble teas to make an enjoyable, chewy flavor to your beverage.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF TAPIOCA?

We've already mentioned that tapioca is the in the middle of controversy between those who believe in its benefits for health and those who consider it to be something to be considered an occasional treat that has no nutritional worth.

Tapioca is mostly made up of carbohydrates that are the primary factor behind the belief of many that it's a food item to be consumed in moderation, not being a staple food item to build your diet around.

But there are certain benefits worthy of highlighting, for example:

IT'S FREE OF COMMON ALLERGENS

Tapioca is free of grains, nuts and gluten. Also, as we've mentioned previously it's gluten-free and suitable for those with high levels of gluten and allergy to nuts.

It is therefore an ideal ingredient for producers and home cooks to make tapioca flour that is allergen-free and also other baking recipes that are gluten-free.

Tapioca starch and tapioca flour are also a good substitute for white flour to thicken the flavor of food and are utilized to make sauces, soups or pie fillings.

Alongside our gluten-free vegan dairy-free Oat milk Anyone and everyone is welcome to have a wonderful beverage of tea!

IT'S EASY TO DIGEST

If you have sensitive stomachs tapioca is a great choice! It is gentle on your stomach Many find it more digestible than other flours made with grain or other nuts.

Some doctors suggest substituting tapioca as a source for calories for people suffering from ailments like IBS, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or diverticulitis which can cause digestive flare-ups.

IT'S A SOURCE OF CALCIUM

Calcium is a vital mineral essential to maintaining strong teeth and bones. It also plays a number of other purposes within our bodies, like:

• The ability of blood to clot
• Communicating between nerves
• Our muscles are able to contract
• The heartbeat is a key factor in overall function of the heart.

Based on the National Osteoporosis Foundation We lose calcium every day through our hair, skin nails, sweat, and many other bodily functions. The loss of calcium cannot be replaced without supplementation from food sources.

Tapioca is the answer! A cup of tapioca pearls provide 30.4mg of calcium.

IT'S A SOURCE OF IRON

A cup of tapioca pearls provide 2.4mg of the daily recommended iron intake and ranges from 7-18 mg dependent on variables like size, age and gender.

Iron is a vital part of hemoglobin a protein that carries oxygen to the rest of the body. If a person does not have sufficient iron present in the blood can suffer from an iron deficiency, which is known as anemia..

IT'S LOW IN SODIUM

The need to monitor consumption of sodium is a requirement for everyone and many are likely to consume greater than recommended amounts that is, less than 2,300 mg daily.

Having too much sodium in your diet can cause multiple adverse health conditions, including high blood pressure and

Luckily, tapioca has only 1.52mg of sodium in a cup serving.

TAPIOCA - MORE THAN JUST A TASTY TREAT

Tapioca isn't being a single-trick pony as we've seen today!

In addition to being a tasty option for many recipes like cakes, tapioca pudding and desserts It's also a great thickener agent for savory recipes as well.

Our favorite method of utilizing this delicious sweet treat is to mix it into our daily homemade, deliciously ooey-gooey tapioca pearls, which will tickle your taste buds in our delightful bubble tea!

In Baroness Tea we're fascinated by the story that lies behind all of our ingredients, and how they are able to create a fresh story. The fusion of flavors is unique to us and adds to our ever-growing appreciation for telling stories.

With fresh Oat milk and home-made toppings we're confident of our dishes to create the most delicious of sensations that you'll love!

If you've not been able to try our tea for yourself, we invite you to visit Baroness Bubble Tea located at 2790 West Broadway, Vancouver and try the tea yourself! If you prefer the brown sugarboba or something lighter such as the black tea sparkling tea we've got it to suit your needs!

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