How Is Sabudana Made In India

As we all know, Sabudana is an integral part of Indian food culture.

But how is Sabudana made in the first place?

Well, in this guide, you will find all the answers to this and many more such questions.

So, let’s begin.

What Is Sabudana?

Sabudana, also known as Sago, is an Indian name for Tapioca pearls.

It is nothing but a byproduct of Cassava plant’s roots, and it’s generally available in the form of round-shaped granules.

In India, you can taste some delicious dishes made out of Tapioca pearls, which include Kheer, Khichdi, and Vada.

You can also use its flour to make tasty Thalipeeth at home.

Now that we know what Sabudana is made of let’s find out more about its history.

History Of Sabudana In India

I know you must be curious to know whether Sabudana is indigenous or not.

No, it’s not indigenous at all.

It arrived way too late in India, i.e., in the 19th century!

It came through the same trade route that introduced spices, vegetables, fruits, etc. to our part of the world.

And later, it traveled to different Southeast Asian countries.

Although Sabudana does seem like an ancient ingredient, we only started using it a few decades or centuries back.

So, as you can see, it was never a part of Indian food culture.

Moreover, it’s quite fascinating to see how our chefs/home cooks use this foreign ingredient to create some of the best dishes in the country.

Cultivation In India

Did you know?

Visakham Thirunal, Maharaja of Travancore, helped increase the popularity of Tapioca in the Southern part of India.

He pushed the cultivation of Cassava plants in Travancore and nearby regions.

He also introduced the techniques to cook these white pearls.

And it worked!

His efforts paid off well.

Sabudana, as we know, is now a staple food in India.

And now, Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of Sabudana in the country.

Furthermore, many Indian states also grow these plants for Sabudana production.

Talking about the cultivation, Indian farmers mostly use Cassava plants to get the raw material for Kappa (Tapioca).

However, in general, there are three types of plants that produce the desired starch for Sago.

Here’s the list:

1. Palm Sago
2. Cycad Sago
3. Cassava Sago

From the above list, our farmers mostly use Cassava plants to produce Sabudana in India.

On the other hand, some farmers also use Palm trees (a specific variety) for Sago’s production.

Cycad is also a different variety of Palm-like trees, though you’d most likely find them in ornamental landscapes.

And the reason is its toxicity.

Its starch contains toxic elements.

Therefore, it’s necessary to detoxify it before using it for production.

Alright now, let’s quickly take a look at how Sabudana is made in Indian factories.

How Is Sabudana Made

As mentioned earlier, Sabudana comes from Cassava plant.

The roots of this plant produce an edible starch, which is useful in producing Tapioca granules.

Now, here’s how Sabudana is made in the processing factories –

• Step 1: First and foremost, the harvested Cassava roots arrive directly in industrial factories from various farms.
• Step 2: Once the initial assessment is over, the conveyor belt machines clean and peel the roots for the next processes.
• Step 3: Then, the peeled roots move to the next section where the automated machines crush the roots to extract the milk-like substance (starch).
• Step 4: Further, the white liquid moves through several filters and water-cleaning processes before entering into the accumulation tank.
• Step 5: Here, the workers store the liquid mixture for about 6-8 hours. This period allows the impurities to float on the water.
• Step 6: Later, the workers drain out all the liquid, and all you get is a solid substance.
• Step 7: As this substance dries out completely, the workers relocate it to the sieving section to prepare the Sabudana granules.
• Step 8: Once the granules are ready, it goes through the cooking/steaming process.
• Step 9: And finally, the manufactures sun-dry the granules to remove the remaining moisture from them.

And that’s how Sabudana is made!

When all processes are over, the Sabudana granules are polished and dispatched to the packaging section.

FAQs

Now, I’m sure you must be having a few questions in your mind.

Well, here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Sabudana.

(Bubble Tea – Prepared using Tapioca Pearls)

Over To You

I hope you learned a few interesting facts on how Sabudana is made in India.

Well, it’s surely an interesting ingredient in Indian cooking.

And its making process is even more fascinating!

Now, if you have any queries or doubts related to this topic, drop a comment below.

And if you liked this informative guide, do share it with your friends and family.