Put the pot on medium heat and let the mixture start to boil gently. Stir continuously to avoid the tapioca from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Make the pudding.
When the mixture starts boiling, lower the heat and let it simmer gently for 15-20 minutes, stirring often.
Keep cooking the pudding until the tapioca pearls become see-through and the mixture thickens to a pudding-like texture.
Take the pot off the stove and mix in the vanilla extract, if desired.
4. Serve and Decorate
Put the tapioca pudding into separate bowls for each person or into a big serving dish.
Let the pudding cool a bit before eating, or put it in the fridge for a few hours for a cold treat.
Add a little bit of ground cinnamon or nutmeg on top of each serving, if you like.
