ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Tapioca pudding

Tapioca pudding is a sweet treat that is usually eaten as a dessert. It is made from a type of starch called tapioca which comes from a plant called cassava.

Basically, it's like cooking little balls of powder that becomes soft and chewy when added to hot liquid like milk, sugar and vanilla extract. These little balls are called tapioca pearls, and they look like tiny jelly balls at first. Then, they soak up the liquid and become bigger, translucent balls that are soft and squishy. They kind of look like little clear marbles in the pudding when its done.

Most tapioca pudding recipes call for milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and of course, tapioca pearls. People usually mix all of these ingredients together in a pot and slowly cook it on the stove. Once it's all mixed and cooked together and the balls have expanded and become soft and squishy, the pudding is ready to be eaten!

It's a fun textured pudding to eat because of the soft and squishy balls. They can even be added to other desserts or drinks, like bubble tea, to add a chewy texture to it as well.