What exactly is the "tapioca" in tapioca pudding??? me and friend had a l.o.n.g. debate about what those little "a~chee~nee~da~pee~pee" looking noddle type things were in tapioca pudding. lol....any help?

The "tapioca" is a flavorless, colorless, odorless starch extracted from the root of a plant. The plant goes by lots of names, including cassava, yuca, and manioc. The starch can be formed into different shapes. For pudding, the tapioca pearls are used. That's what those little balls are - balls of tapioca. They aren't acini de pepe :) (Which is tiny peppercorn shaped pasta for those of you unfamiliar with it)

Tapioca is properly a starch extracted from cassava root. It is then processed, and sold in a variety of forms (powder, flour, flakes, sticks, pearls, etc.). It is generally used as a thickening agent. I'm familiar with tapioca in "bubble tea" -- the "bubbles" are tapioca pearls. I don't know what form of tapioca you use to make pudding, though. Judging by your description of noodle-type things, it sounds like tapioca sticks are what's used. What's "a-chee-nee-da-pee-pee" mean?? "Tapioca" is one of those words that is often used imprecisely, though, so it could describe any number of things that look or function like true tapioca. I've heard that in Britain, "tapioca pudding" is actually rice pudding thickened with arrowroot, so who knows what tapioca is in practice?