What is cassava and where does it come from?
The Cassava root is also know as mandioca, macaxeira, aipim, yuca, manioc, maniok and tapioca. The Cassava plant is believed to have originated in Brazil and is one of the 10 most important food plants and the most important starchy root of the tropics. This vegetable root ingredient is little known about here in Britain. This is a great root vegetable, which is unfortunately overlooked by many consumers, perhaps mostly because of the lack of product information at the point of sale. In the UK the number of people with wheat intolerance and allergies is rising, and so the lighter nature of the Cassava starch is perfect for a balanced diet. It can make wholesome foods for the whole family. We eat a great deal of naturally gluten free flours and starches in Brazil, as they are so readily available to us over there. They can be made from the cassava root, corn, potatoes and arrowroot, but my favourite by far are the foods made from cassava and corn. We use them to make stews, breads, cake
