Out of these, Dioscorea rotundata (white yam) and Dioscorea alata (water yam) are the most common, and most economically important, species in Nigeria. Yams are grown in the coastal region in rain forests, wood savanna and southern savanna habitats.
What are the two types of yams?
Two types of yams dominate the West Africa starchy vegetable group — the white guinea yam (D. rotundata) and the yellow guinea yam (D. cayenensis). Both are large, weighing about 4 to 6 pounds.
Are yams native to Nigeria?
Yam domestication occurred along an axis at the forest–savannah ecotone in the eastern part of West Africa [10], where Nigeria is geographically. Nigeria is reputed to have the most advanced yam culture and civilization in the world [11].
What does Nigerian yam taste like?
Color of Ghana Yam ( Nigerian Yam)
It’s dry and starchy. When cooked, it has a subtle sweetness with a mild, earthy flavor.
What are yams called in Africa?
nyami
Africans call yams “nyami,” which is where we get the word “yam.” They are cylindrical and vary in size. Some of the largest yams have weighed more than 100 pounds and have been several feet long.
What is Nigerian yam?
Yam is in the class of roots and tubers that is a staple of the Nigerian and West African diet, which provides some 200 calories of energy per capital daily. In Nigeria, in many yam-producing areas, it is said that “yam is food and food is yam”.
What are the different names of yams?
yam
- murphy.
- plant.
- spud.
- tater.
- tuber.
Which state in Nigeria has the best yam?
Taraba is the top region by production of yam in Nigeria. As of 2005, production of yam in Taraba was 3,162 1000 metric tons that accounts for 12.89% of Nigeria’s production of yam.
Where is yam cheap in Nigeria?
Yams are cheap in some locations example Taraba, Benue, Niger etc. this is because these states have yam in abundance. And costly in other locations example; Lagos, Port Harcourt, Delta etc.
What is white yam in Yoruba?
YORUBA-NAGO isu ewura = water yam NIGERIA: BEROM dém pwεŋ = white yam (LB) dém sunàŋ = red yam (LB) kit jey = outside yam; because the tubers are emergent from the ground (LB) kit kácìk = straight yam; for the long, large tubers, bigger than dém, smooth (LB) EDO ígìorùa (JMD) udin (JMD) EFIK èbìgè (auctt.)
Is fufu and pounded yam the same?
Is pounded yam a version of fufu? Yes, it is a popular fufu recipe in West African countries. It is also considered one of what they called swallow foods often served with soups and stews.
What’s the difference between white and yellow yam?
White yam tuber is roughly cylindrical in shape, the skin is smooth and brown, and the flesh is usually white and firm. Yellow yam has yellow flesh, caused by the presence of carotenoids. It looks similar to the white yam in outer appearance; its tuber skin is usually a bit firmer and less extensively grooved.
What are yams called in South Africa?
What is yam called in South Africa? It’s known as ‘Elephant’s Foot‘ in English, in isiZulu ‘ingwevu’, meaning grey/old or ‘ifudu’, meaning tortoise; in Sepedi the name is ‘Kgato’ – ‘to stamp’. In the 1950s, the yam was heavily exploited by the British pharmaceutical firm Boots for the production of cortisone.
Is cassava the same as yam?
The main difference between cassava and yam is that cassava possesses a higher percentage of calories than yams. It is true that yams and cassava are tuberous root vegetables. Both cassava and yams grow out of a flowering plant.
What are American yams?
Often North Americans use the words “yam” & “sweet potato” interchangeably. However, a true yam is a starchy, edible tuber, generally with a drier taste than a sweet potato.
Is African yam healthy?
They’re a great source of fiber, potassium, manganese, copper, and antioxidants. Yams are linked to various health benefits and may boost brain health, reduce inflammation, and improve blood sugar control.
How is pound yam in Nigeria?
To make Pounded Yam, all you need is Puna yam and water.
- Peel the yam and cut it into small cubes.
- Rinse about once or twice till you get clear water.
- Boil until the Yam becomes fork-tender.
- Pound or blend into a dough-like consistency until it’s completely smooth with no yam chunks left.
What is pound yam used for?
Pick with a fork and transfer into a mortar then go ahead and pound with a pestle, pound until the yam is seedless and can easily be molded, you can add water and pound until you have a smooth soft pounded yam.
How many types of yam do we have?
There are over 600 varieties of yams and 95% of these crops are grown in Africa. Compared to sweet potatoes, yams are starchier and drier.
What is yam called in English?
A yam is a root vegetable which is like a potato, and grows in tropical regions. 2. variable noun. Yams are the same as sweet potatoes. [US]
What does a real yam look like?
Yams have a cylindrical shape with blackish or brown, bark-like skin and white, purple, or reddish flesh. Compared to sweet potatoes, yams are starchier and drier. They’re carried in more grocery stores these days, but your best chance of finding them is to look in international and specialty markets.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.