Tapioca pudding
Use industrially processed tapioca flour.
Boil with milk, a little sugar and vanilla until thickened.
Cassava and ecology
It requires less water than rice or wheat.
It is resistant to pests.
It grows in soils unsuitable for other crops.
Its starch is now used to make bioplastics, eco-packaging, and even biofuels.
The history of cassava in brief
~8000 years ago – domesticated by tribes in the Amazon.
16th century – the Portuguese brought it to Africa, where it adapted to dry land.
18th–19th centuries – spreads to Southeast Asia.
Today , Brazil, Nigeria, Thailand, DR Congo and Indonesia are leading producers.
Interesting fact: cassava has saved millions of lives during wars and famines because it grows where other crops die.
Medical Perspective: The Dangers of Cyanide
Cyanide blocks the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase, which is needed for cellular respiration. The cells “suffocate” even if there is oxygen in the blood.
Symptoms of poisoning:
dizziness, nausea, rapid breathing, weakness;
seizures, loss of consciousness;
in severe cases – death in 30–60 minutes.
Chronic exposure:
tropical ataxia;
conzo (paralysis of the lower limbs in children);
thyroid disorders.
