Tapioca: what is it and how can it be used?
in our new blog post we enlighten you about tapioca “what is it?”, “where does it come from?”, “how is it made?”, “what can you use it for?”. take a look at our website and tell us what you think about tapioca..
READ HERE: https://lnkd.in/dUUShwzs
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Tapioca is a plant starch obtained from the cassava root. It has a neutral taste and is therefore suitable for both sweet and hearty dishes.
It is precisely because tapioca can be used in so many different ways that it is becoming increasingly popular – and not just in the food industry! Find out how the starch can be made, what varieties it comes in, and how you can use it in this blog post.
Cassava is found in tropical areas. Since it is mainly the root tubers that are consumed, the plant is also known as the “tropical potato”. Especially in South America, Africa and some Asian countries, they are often on the menu. For some time now, tapioca obtained from the root has also been popular outside these latitudes.
The important thing in its production is the proper procedure. This is because cassava contains hydrocyanic acid and is therefore poisonous in its raw state. To remove the acid, the root must therefore first be peeled, crushed and watered several times. The resulting mass is then heated so that even the last residues evaporate.
The elaborate process (which has only been touched upon here) finally produces tapioca flour or tapioca pearls, as desired. These can be further processed as required.
Cassava Roots on a field.
First of all, you have probably come into contact with tapioca more often than you might think. In fact, the starch is found in many areas of application. We would like to briefly introduce some of them to you:
Both terms describe the same thing in this case: Tapioca in white, powdery consistency. Just like potato or corn starch, you can use this to thicken sauces or soups, for example. But tapioca can also be used as an alternative to flour in baking – especially if you have a gluten intolerance.
In addition, tapioca starch is often found in sweets such as candies and chewing gum.
Especially if you like it less sweet, the mild taste of tapioca syrup might be right for you. With it, you’re also resorting to a vegan alternative to honey. But it is also recommended for people with fructose intolerance.
Insider tip: Tapioca syrup makes beaten egg whites even creamier.
Syrup powder has a similar consistency to tapioca flour, but is not neutral in taste. With its slight sweetness, it is therefore ideal for making vegan ice cream or chocolate.
However, it is also commonly used as a binder, for elasticity and plasticity. You can often find tapioca syrup powder in frozen products.
Beyond food production, it is also used as a binder for medicines.
Tapioca maltodextrin is most commonly used as a foam stabilizer and carrier for flavors. It is also frequently found in the food industry as a preservative. The carbohydrate mixture is neutral in taste and easy to digest.
Tapioca oligodextrin is considered a source of low-glycemic carbohydrates. It improves texture in various food applications.
If you’ve ever had tapioca pudding, you’ve come across pearl tapioca in this case. It’s a slightly coarser version of starch. In addition, this is also important in feed production. Here it is used to stick together so that solid pellets do not fall apart.
Tapioca in a Bowl and Cassava Roots.
Do you still remember bubble tea? The trendy drink from Asia was the talk of the town in Germany for some time – first because it was so popular. Then because the pearls in it were supposed to be carcinogenic. However, several studies have disproved the rumor. The edible beads made from tapioca have been classified as harmless, and bubble tea stores are now increasingly to be found in German cities.
Nevertheless, one of the most frequently asked questions is whether tapioca is considered healthy. As with any food, it’s the mass that makes it and only within a balanced diet can one speak of healthy food at all.
Basically, however, tapioca does quite well:
If you do not tolerate gluten or fructose well, products made from tapioca are an optimal alternative. What’s more, the plant is more than low in fat, with almost zero grams. In addition, with tapioca you take minerals such as magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and potassium. However, it is starch and that basically provides relatively high calories and carbohydrates.
You can be on the safe side when you buy organic quality. Go for products produced without genetic engineering and using natural additives.
Like any food, tapioca is a matter of taste. If the plant starch is not suitable for your applications, you can also switch to other products. An example of this would be rice starch.
As a food manufacturer, you obviously want to know exactly what you are putting into your products. If you are looking for purely natural ingredients in BIO quality, you have come to the right place. We at naVitalo are specialists in this field and also attach great importance to environmentally friendly and sustainable work. With us you will not only find starches, but also, among other things, natural sweeteners, vegetable drink powders and proteins.
Feel free to contact us. We will advise you in detail and together we will find the high-quality ingredients that fit your products.
we are happy to announce that we’re having a new blog section up on our website. make sure to stop by to read our first blog post about ” Rice syrup: healthy alternative to other sweeteners?”
Read more : https://www.navitalo.com/reissirup-gesunde-alternative-zu-anderen-susungsmitteln/
#blogpost #rycesyrup #healthyalternative #naturalsweetener
More and more people have the ambition to limit their consumption of industrial sugar. The main reason for this is usually a consideration of their own health. Fortunately, there are now a variety of natural alternatives on the market, which bring with them very different benefits.
One of these is rice syrup, which has long been used in Asian cuisine and is becoming increasingly popular thanks to its light caramel flavor. In addition, rice syrup is considered a healthy sugar substitute – but is that really true? We will get to the bottom of this question in this blog post.
To make a thick syrup from the cereal grains, the rice is first finely ground. The resulting flour is finally heated together with natural enzymes and water. During this process, the sugar is broken down. To free the liquid from all solid components, it is filtered. Now it only needs to be further thickened by heat until the desired consistency is achieved. This can be compared to that of honey.
In the production of rice syrup, therefore, you can do without artificial additives. You get a vegan final product that consists only of rice, natural enzymes and water.
Depending on the intensity of this process, rice syrup also comes in different shades. The darker, the more intense the caramel flavor. But even the darker versions are rather mild compared to household sugar.
Rice Plant on a field.
One thing in advance: rice syrup also consists of sugar, albeit natural. So, in general, one cannot speak of a healthy food here. As with all foods, it depends on a balanced diet and an adequate amount.
Basically, however, it can already be stated that rice syrup has some advantages in contrast to other sweeteners:
At just over 300 kcal per 100 g, the energy content is about 100 kcal below that of industrial sugar. From a health point of view, this is a clear point in favor of rice syrup. However, if you are very fond of sweet foods and therefore use a larger amount, this advantage will not apply.
Especially if you suffer from intolerances, rice syrup can be a healthy alternative for you:
The colloquially called fructose is not only found in fruits. It is also contained in normal household sugar. Those who have an intolerance can have problems here. Rice syrup, on the other hand, is free of fructose and is therefore easy to digest.
Rice is 100% gluten-free, so this also applies to rice syrup. And even if you have an intolerance to histamine, you can consume it without hesitation.
Many hay fever sufferers are allergic to honey. This is because it contains a lot of pollen itself. Rice syrup does not cause any health complaints resulting from an allergy here and is considered to be well tolerated.
This is what Rice Syrup looks like.
As with any food, the motto with rice syrup is: quantity makes the difference. Whether it can be seen as a healthier alternative to sugar also depends in part on your perspective. You can especially benefit if you suffer from intolerances and allergies. Here, you have a clear advantage when using rice syrup.
If you like it less sweet and a light caramel flavor is enough for you, you also benefit from a lower calorie content.
But: watch out if you are diabetic. Rice syrup has a glycemic index of 98, so blood sugar rises sharply after consumption.
But beyond the advantages mentioned above, there are other health factors that are in your own hands. For example, if you pay attention to the quality when buying!
We recommend that you use syrup made from organic rice. This comes from organic and sustainable cultivation. In addition, you should make sure that natural and GMO-free enzymes are used in the production.
naVitalo stands for vegan and gluten-free foods in organic quality. With us, you will find other options besides rice syrup to banish table sugar from your products.
Perhaps oat or tapioca syrup are your alternative of choice instead. For some purposes, however, syrup simply doesn’t have the right consistency. In this case, rice syrup or tapioca powder might be optimal for you.
Are you a food manufacturer looking for plant-based ingredients in organic quality? Then please contact us and together we will find the products in our range that are suitable for your requirements.