Yam
(Dioscorea alata)
Yam
Yam
Selection
Pick when the leaves are dry. Be careful when picking in the bush as some varieties are poisonous.
Storage
Keep in a dry, dark, and well-ventilated place. Can be stored in huts or dried.
Preparation
- Wash plants well before use.
- The immature pods can be eaten steamed or cookedwith other foods.
- The young leaves, shoots, and flowers can also beeaten as a vegetable.
- Roots can be eaten raw or cooked.
- (Bailey, 1992; Produce for Better Health Foundation, 2013)
Photo Source
Wikimedia
Yam
The yam is a climbing vine with large underground roots. The edible root is white, off-white, orange, or purple in color (Secretariat of the Pacific Community, 1995).
Traditional Names
- Chamorro – dågu
- Hawaiian – uhi
- Kosraen – muhtah
- Marshallese – yam
- Palauan – telngot
- Pohnpeian – kehp
- Samoan – ufi
- Yapese – du’og