Tapioca is a starch extracted from the roots of manioc, a tuber native to South America also known as yucca root. Rich in vitamins, dietary fiber and naturally gluten-free, tapioca offers many health benefits. What’s more, tapioca’s versatility in the kitchen has made it popular the world over. Le Maní, a tapiocaria that recently opened in the heart of Brussels, a stone’s throw from the Grand-Place, specializes in this exotic ingredient. Don’t wait to discover this new café!
Delicious crêpes
At Mani, tapioca is cooked in the form of delicious sweet or savoury crêpes. How are they cooked, you may ask? The process of extracting cassava starch involves grinding the roots to extract the juice, then dehydrating this juice to obtain small translucent white granules, known as tapioca. When placed on a frying pan, these little pearls form a soft pancake, which is then topped with a variety of toppings. And that’s all there is to it!
Try, for example, the delicious tapioca crepe with smoked salmon. It’s topped with smoked salmon, cream cheese, mixed greens and avocado. A real delight! Do you have a sweet tooth? The crêpe de coco & doce de leite is definitely for you. The succulent blend of doce de leite, the Brazilian milk jam, and coconut will take your taste buds to the tropics!
A coffee with Brazilian flavours
The tapiocaria also offers a host of other Brazilian specialties. Let yourself be tempted, for example, by the refreshing açai bowls or the cheese bread sandwiches (pão de queijo). Otherwise, on the drinks front, try guarana, a very popular Brazilian soda made from extracts of the guarana plant. Last but not least, the café’s pretty, minimalist decor is sure to enchant you. It’s the perfect place to unwind during a trip to the center!
📍12 petite rue des bouchers, 1000 Brussels