Tapioca Flour is a starch extracted from the root of the cassava plant (Manihot esculenta). Native to Brazil, it is now cultivated worldwide. The cassava root is a gluten-free product.
In herbal medicine, the roots are made into a poultice and applied to the skin as a treatment for skin irritations. It is a highly absorbent powder, imparts a silky texture to body creams, and helps decrease the oily feeling of natural oils and butters. It has a very fine, velvety soft texture, and its absorbent properties make it a great base for body powders and dry shampoos.
All tapioca flour (starch) is not created equal. The tapioca sold for cosmetic use is often “modified tapioca starch,” because it does not clump and flows more easily. This form of tapioca is often modified with a silicone to give it more slip. The biggest concern when using any modified food starch is that there is virtually no way to know what chemicals were used to "modify" it or what trace chemical contamination remains in the product. Our organic tapioca flour is not “modified.”
