Difference Between Tapioca and Rice Pudding

Tapioca vs Rice Pudding

Cassava and rice are two of the major sources of carbohydrates. They are the staple food for the people of Asia, Africa, and South America and are prepared in several different ways. Rice and cassava can be steamed, boiled, or ground and made into flour for use in other food preparations.
Cassava is also known as bitter cassava, manioc, or yucca. The cassava root is made into a starch called tapioca. It is used as a base for toothpaste, and the cassava root is manufactured as biodegradable plastic which can decompose after one year.

It is gluten free and is used to thicken sauces and other foods. After it is ground, the starch is shaped into rectangles, sticks, and spheres after which they are used in food preparations such as juices and drinks, mixed with fish and spices, or puddings.

Tapioca pudding is made with tapioca and milk or coconut milk. Its consistency can be runny, thick, or firm which allows it to be eaten with a fork. It can be made mixed with other ingredients like eggs, raisins, cream, and flavorings.
Rice is a cereal grain which is the staple food for people in Asia, South America, and the Middle East. It is usually prepared by steaming or made into porridge or pudding. Rice pudding is cooked with milk, sugar, vanilla, and other flavorings. It is eaten as dinner or dessert and is known by different names. In the Philippines it is known as champorado which is rice cooked in water and flavored with chocolate, milk, and sugar. In India it is known as kheer, in Singapore as pulut hitam, in Spain as arroz con leche, and in France as riz au lait.

Rice pudding is a popular dessert in the United Kingdom. Rice is mixed with cream, milk, and sugar and is either cooked in a saucepan or baked in an oven. In the United States it is first cooked on a stove and then baked.
Tapioca pudding is usually prepared with eggs while rice pudding does not contain eggs. It also has a different texture due to the tapioca pearls which have a rubbery texture. Rice pudding is smoother because rice becomes soft when cooked.
Tapioca pudding can have varied tastes because it is prepared with various ingredients. Rice pudding is usually prepared with only a few ingredients; just with rice, milk, and sweetener which can be sugar, honey, or sweetened milk.

Summary:

1.Tapioca is a starch extracted from the root of the cassava plant and formed into sticks, rectangles, or spheres while rice is a cereal grain which is the staple food for people living in Asia, South America, and other parts of the world.
2.Tapioca pudding is made with tapioca, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, and other flavorings and ingredients while rice pudding is made with milk, rice, and a sweetener.
3.Rice pudding is smoother than tapioca pudding because the rice grains are soft when cooked while tapioca has a rubbery texture.
4.Tapioca usually contains eggs while rice pudding does not.