Sago facts for kids
Sago is a type of starch that comes from the soft, spongy inside of certain tropical palm trees. Most often, it comes from a tree called the Metroxylon sagu, also known as the sago palm.
Sago is a very important food for many people who live in places like New Guinea and the Maluku Islands (also called the Moluccas). In these areas, sago has local names like saksak, rabia, and sagu.
The main places that produce and sell sago are in Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia and Malaysia. Large amounts of sago are often sent to countries in Europe and North America to be used in cooking.
Cooking with Sago
People traditionally cook and eat sago in many different ways. It can be boiled in hot water and rolled into balls. It can also be made into a sticky, glue-like paste called papeda, or cooked like a pancake.
Sago is often sold as small, round pieces called "pearls." These pearls are made from starch and become soft and jelly-like when heated. Sago pearls can be boiled with water or milk and sugar to make a sweet sago pudding.
Sago pearls look a lot like other starches that are made into pearls, such as those from cassava (called tapioca) or potato starch. Sometimes, they can even be used in place of each other in different dishes or snacks.
Images for kids
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A sago palm being harvested for sago production
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A sago starch filter
See also
In Spanish: Sagú (fécula) para niños
