What’s in your noodle soup? Using cassava for diverse markets in Asia

You may never have heard of it before. Cassava - or tapioca - is a root crop like sweet potato originally from South America, where it is steamed or boiled and eaten as a source of carbohydrate. It was introduced by traders to Southeast Asia, where it survived drought and high temperatures. It’s still eaten as a root crop in some areas, especially in mountainous areas where few other crops will grow. But today cassava and other root and tuber crops are used in a wide range of other foods and markets. Starch is used to make everything from noodles to sweeteners and street food snacks.