Yam
- For the Levantine god of the untamed sea, see Yaw.
Yam is the common name for members of the genus Dioscorea (family Dioscoreaceae). Some species are cultivated for consumption in Africa and Asia. The word "yam" is derived from Portuguese inhame or Spanish ñame, which are ultimately from the West African nyami, meaning "to eat". They are used in a similar fashion to potatoes, and are sometimes called a potato substitute, though in those areas where yams are grown, potatoes are the newer vegetable.
The sweeter varieties of sweet potato (Ipomoea) are often called "yams", causing much confusion.
In the Philippines, yams (known as "ube") is eaten as a sweetened dessert (called "halaya"), and often with other fruits and milk as part of halo-halo.
fr:Igname ja:ヤマノイモ pt:Inhame zh-min-nan:Soaⁿ-io̍h
Categories: Vegetables