Definition of cassava

The origin of the word "cassava" is attributed to Portuguese explorers who arrived in Africa in the 16th century. They found a starchy root crop being cultivated by indigenous peoples and called it "cassava" due to its similarity in taste and texture to the Turkish horn-shaped pastry called "kasava." This pastry was named after the Turkish word "kásavαλ" or "kásawί", which means "sweet bread". The Portuguese also adopted the word "manioc" from the Tupi language spoken in Brazil, which referred to the cassava plant. This word was later adopted into Spanish as "mandioca" and into French as "manioque". Today, "cassava" is widely used in many parts of the world, especially in the Caribbean and Latin America, while "manioc" or "mandioca" is more commonly used in Africa and Europe.