Tapioca is a starch product that can be used as flour, flakes, or pearls in cooking and baking. It has low nutritional value and may cause cyanide poisoning if not processed properly. Tapioca is a starch derived from the root of the cassava plant . Tapioca is naturally vegan, gluten-free, and grain-free, making it a great starch alternative in your diet. Tapioca is starch obtained from the root of cassava, a plant that mostly grows underground (like a potato). In many parts of the world, it's a food staple. Cassava is a native vegetable of South... Tapioca is a type of starch extracted from the root of the cassava plant . It is commonly used in boba tea, puddings, noodles, and gluten-free baked goods.