百子櫃THE HUNDRED DRAWERS
Sago
西米
Small white pearls rolled from tapioca (cassava) starch that turn clear when cooked: the base of 西米露 and 楊枝甘露. The Australian supermarket box says sago (McKenzie's Tapioca Sago Seed, for example) and it is exactly the Hong Kong 西米; Asian grocers have tapioca pearls too. The large black instant tapioca pearls and bubble-tea packs are 珍珠, a different thing.
Preparation
Into plenty of boiling water without soaking; cook until only a pinprick of white remains, rest five minutes off the heat, then rinse cold.
Availability in Australia
Easy to find
Australian name · sago / tapioca pearls (small, white)
Where · Supermarket baking aisle (McKenzie's sago); Asian grocers (Cock, Erawan)
What to ask for · The Australian box says sago and it is 西米; not the big black bubble-tea pearls
Where · Supermarket baking aisle (McKenzie's sago); Asian grocers (Cock, Erawan)
What to ask for · The Australian box says sago and it is 西米; not the big black bubble-tea pearls
