What is Manioc / Cassava?

Manihot esculenta, commonly called cassava, manioc, or yuca is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America. Although a perennial plant, cassava is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates.

Though it is often called yuca in parts of Spanish America and in the United States, it is not related to yucca, a shrub in the family Asparagaceae. Cassava is predominantly consumed in boiled form, but substantial quantities are used to extract cassava starch, called tapioca, which is used for food, animal feed, and industrial purposes. The Brazilian farinha, and the related garri of West Africa, is an edible coarse flour obtained by grating cassava roots, pressing moisture off the obtained grated pulp, and finally drying it (and roasting both in the case of farinha and garri).

Cassava is the third-largest source of food carbohydrates in the tropics, after rice and maize. Cassava is a major staple food in the developing world, providing a basic diet for over half a billion people. It is one of the most drought-tolerant crops, capable of growing on marginal soils. Nigeria is the world's largest producer of cassava, while Thailand is the largest exporter of cassava starch.

Cassava is classified as either sweet or bitter. Like other roots and tubers, both bitter and sweet varieties of cassava contain antinutritional factors and toxins, with the bitter varieties containing much larger amounts. Manioc can be used different ways,

  • As tuberous.
  • As Manioc Powder.
  • As Manioc leaves.

Manioc Tapioca

Tapioca is a starch extracted from the storage roots of the cassava plant (Manihot esculenta, also known as manioc), a species native to the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, but whose use is now spread throughout South America.

How to growing Manioc?

  • To plant cassava, push into the soil the end of the piece of stem that was nearer to the ground.
  • Plant the cuttings in mounds or ridges. Plant when the soil is quite wet, after the beginning of the rainy season. Plant the cuttings either straight or slanting. Push them well into the earth, leaving only 2 or 3 buds above ground.
  • Cassava cuttings may be planted straight or slating.
  • Press the earth well down round the cuttings. Then the roots that develop will be well nourished by the soil.
  • Usually the rows are 1 to 1.5 meters apart, and the plants 1 meter apart.
  • With this spacing, there are between 7 000 and 10 000 cassava plants to the hectare.
  • But the number of cuttings to the hectare varies with the region, soil and variety.
  • If cassava is planted at the right density, the yield is heavy; the roots occupy all the soil and fewer weeds grow, so those less cultivation are needed.

Best Climate for growing Manioc

Up to 1500m elevation. Cultivate throughout the year with in broad range of soil and climate condition. 1000-1500mm rain fall and 25-29 oC Temperature is needed.

Manioc Harvesting

Depending on the variety, harvesting of cassava for food may begin from the seventh month after planting the cuttings for early varieties, or after the tenth month for late varieties.

Before this, the tubers are too small. In addition, they still contain too much prussic acid.

At harvesting time, that is, between the sixth and the twelfth month, each fully grown tuber of cassava may weigh 1 or 2 kilograms, depending on the variety.

In small family plantations you can harvest tubers as you need them. Without cutting the stems, begin by taking the biggest tubers from each plant, leaving the smaller ones time to fatten up.

If you are selling to a factory, you must harvest all the cassava at the same time. The production of roots and starch is highest 18 to 20 months after planting.

Storage

Once lifted, cassava cannot be kept for long. The roots begin to spoil as soon as they are out of the ground. That is why on a family plantation, you should not harvest more roots than you can eat while they are fresh, or sell immediately. Cassava keeps longer when it is left in the ground, but the soil must not be too wet.

Uses of Manioc

People use the root as a food and to make medicine. Cassava is used for tiredness, dehydration in people with diarrhea, sepsis, and to induce labor, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Cassava root and leaves are eaten as food. The nutritional value of cassava is similar to a potato.

  • Gluten- and grain-free bread-Tapioca flour can be used in bread recipes, although it’s often combined with other flours.
  • Flatbread-It’s often used to make flatbread in developing countries. With different toppings, it may be eaten as breakfast, dinner, or dessert.
  • Puddings and desserts- Its pearls are used to make puddings, desserts, snacks, or bubble tea.
  • Thickener-It can be used as a thickener for soups, sauces, and gravies. It’s cheap and has a neutral flavor and great thickening power.
  • Binding agent -It’s added to burgers, nuggets, and dough to improve texture and moisture content, trapping moisture in a gel-like form and preventing sogginess.

In addition to their use in cooking, the pearls have been used to starch clothing by being boiled with the clothes.

Nutrients

A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of cooked cassava root contains 191 calories. Around 84% of them comes from carbs, while the rest come from protein and fat.

One serving also provides some fiber and a few vitamins and minerals .

The following nutrients are found in 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of cooked cassava.

  • Calories: 191
  • Protein: 1.5 grams
  • Fat: 3 grams
  • Carbs: 40 grams
  • Fiber: 2 grams
  • Vitamin C: 20% of the Daily Value (DV)
  • Copper: 12% of the DV
  • Thiamine: 7% of the DV
  • Folate: 6% of the DV
  • Vitamin B6: 6% of the DV
  • Potassium: 6% of the DV
  • Magnesium: 5% of the DV
  • Niacin: 5% of the DV

Cassava root is particularly high in vitamin C, an important vitamin that acts as an antioxidant, supports collagen production, and enhances immunity, among other benefits.

Benefits of Manioc

  • Cassava Protect and Repair Body Tissue.
  • Cassava Reducing Risk of Heart Disease.
  • Cassava Improves Bone Health.
  • Cassava Improves Digestive Health.
  • Cassava Reduce Blood Pressure.
  • Cassava Helps in Weight Loss.
  • Cassava Helps in Lowering Blood Sugar Level.
  • Cassava Prevent from Cancer.
  • Cassava Boost Immune System.
  • Cassava Prevent Alzheimer.
  • Smoothens And Brightens Your Complexion.
  • Great Face Mask
  • Hydrates The Skin.
  • Removes Scars And Spots.
  • Hair Benefits Of Cassava.
  • Helps Your Hair Grow Faster.
  • Controls Hair Fall.
  • Provides Nourishment.