National Tapioca Pudding Day, celebrated on July 15 each year, pays homage to this beloved dessert made from tapioca pearls. Tapioca pudding itself is a creamy and comforting treat that has been enjoyed for generations. Its origins can be traced back to the tropical regions where tapioca plants are native, and it has since become a popular dessert worldwide. The pudding is typically made by cooking tapioca pearls in milk or a milk substitute until they become soft and translucent, then sweetening the mixture with sugar and flavouring it with vanilla or other ingredients. It can be served warm or chilled, often with a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg on top for added flavour. Its unique texture, a combination of soft pudding and slightly chewy tapioca pearls, adds to its appeal. From Sago Pudding in Singapore to Tapioca Cake in Brazil, we bring you five pudding equivalents that are found across the globe to celebrate National Tapioca Pudding Day 2024.

National Tapioca Pudding Day encourages people to indulge in this timeless dessert and perhaps even try making it at home to experience its comforting and nostalgic flavours first-hand. Whether enjoyed alone or as part of a larger celebration, tapioca pudding continues to hold a special place in the hearts and taste buds of dessert enthusiasts everywhere. As you observe National Tapioca Pudding Day 2024, we at LatestLY, bring you five tapioca pudding equivalents from different parts of the globe.

1. Sago Pudding (Singapore, Malaysia)

Similar to tapioca pudding, sago pudding is made using sago pearls (which are similar to tapioca pearls) cooked in coconut milk or milk, sweetened with sugar, and flavoured with pandan leaves or vanilla. It's a popular dessert in Southeast Asia.

Watch Recipe Video of Sago Pudding: 

2. Bubur Sumsum (Indonesia)

Bubur Sumsum is a creamy Indonesian rice flour porridge cooked with coconut milk and served with palm sugar syrup. It often includes tapioca pearls for added texture, giving it a slightly chewy consistency.

Watch Recipe Video of Bubur Sumsum: 

3. Tapioca Payasam (India)

Payasam is a traditional Indian dessert made with milk, sugar, and various additions like rice or vermicelli. Tapioca payasam features tapioca pearls cooked in sweetened milk flavoured with cardamom, saffron, and nuts, often served during festivals and special occasions.

Watch Recipe Video of Tapioca Payasam: 

4. Tapioca Cake (Brazil)

Known as "Bolo de Tapioca" in Portuguese, this Brazilian dessert is made with tapioca pearls soaked in coconut milk until they swell, then baked into a cake with sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and coconut flakes. It's chilled before serving and has a dense, pudding-like texture.

Watch Recipe Video of Tapioca Cake: 

5. Sâm Bổ Lượng (Vietnam)

This Vietnamese dessert soup includes a mix of ingredients including tapioca pearls, seaweed, jujube, and lotus seeds in a sweetened coconut milk base. It's often served cold and is refreshing on hot days.

Watch Recipe Video of Sâm Bổ Lượng: 

These equivalents showcase the versatility of tapioca pearls across different cuisines, each offering a unique take on this delightful dessert ingredient. Happy National Tapioca Pudding Day 2024.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 13, 2024 09:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).