Foods A-Z - Y is for Yams

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Yams, not to be confused with sweet potatoes, are grown on a perennial herbaceous vine . The edible tuber of the plant is grown in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Oceania -- 95% of these crops are grown in Africa; and some 870 species of yams are known. The edible tuber's skin ranges in color from dark brown to light pink. The "meat" of the tuber ranges in color from white or yellow to purple or pink. Plants can grow up to 49 feet (15 m) in length and 3-6 inches (7.6 to 15.2 cm) high. The tuber may grow under the soil as far as 4.9 feet (1.5 meters) deep. Rich in starch, they can be prepared in many ways and are available all year round. Some species of yams are toxic and need to be "pre-treated" or cooked before eaten. Some yams can be used for the commercial synthesis of cortisone and other steroid products. Have you ever eaten a yam? Photo Credit: Pixabay