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| Tapioca is a root crop, also known as cassava and, in French-Speaking countries, manioc. |
It is originated from South America, in countries such as Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Brazil. It was grown in these countries for 3,000 to 7,000 years, and later spread to other parts of the world. The Portugese and the Spanish took tapioca from Mexico to the Philippines in the 17th century and the Dutch introduced it to Indonesia in the 18th century. |
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Tapioca is categorized as follows :
ORDER : GERANIALES OR EUPHORBIALES
CLASS : DICOTYLEDONEA
SUBCLASS : ARCHICHLAMYDEAE
FAMILY : EUPHORBIACEAE
TRIBE : MANIHOTEAE
GENUS : Manihot
SPECIES : esculenta |
| Tapioca can be grown by using cuttings. After placing the cuttings into the soil, roots will start to grow. From two months onward, they will build up starch and expand. Tapioca roots can be harvested after six months, and the harvesting period can extend until they are sixteen months old. |
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There has been no evidence when tapioca was first introduced to Thailand, but it was thought that it was probably imported from what is known now as Malaysia in 1786. |
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Two types of tapioca are grown in Thailand :
1.The sweet type It has a low level of cyanic acid. Its taste is not bitter and it can be used for human consumption.
2.The bitter type It is poisonous, as it contains a high level of cyanic acid. It is not suitable for direct human consumption or for direct feeding to animals. It should be processed into various products e.g. flour, pellets and alcohol, since it has high starch content. Tapioca grown in Thailand is mostly of the bitter type. |
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