1. It is a starch extracted from the Cassava or Manioc root.
2. It is native to Brazil, but is widely used throughout South America and Asia providing nutrition to many poor communities.
3. Tapioca is the healthiest vegetarian food consisting of Carbohydrates, Folic Acid(Vitamin B9), Iron, Calcium, Omega 3 and 6 acids.
4. Biodegradable plastic bags and pharmacuetical tablets are made from it.
5. It is used most often as a thickening agent for soups and puddings.
6. It is used to make laundry starch.
7. Tapioca is used to make the trendy ‘Bubble Teas’.
8. It used to thicken non toxic paints for our children.
9. It is gluten free.
10. And an accepted Paleo food!! As a half German family – schnitzel is a must have at the dinner table. Using Tapioca flour to coat the pork or veal filet is a pretty good substitute for breadcrumbs.

I just add some salt and pepper to the tapioca flour and dip the meat in covering it all over, then pan fry it in grass fed butter, coconut or palm oil. It comes out golden brown and delicious – it almost feels like cheating!

Thailand is the largest producer of tapioca, so it is much much cheaper than it’s arrowroot alternative. One 500 gm packet of tapioca costs US$1.10 compared to the same amount of arrowroot, which costs about US$10. Similar to the schnitzel you can use it to make chicken nuggets, which is a big hit with the kids.