Chinese yam
Quick Summary
The Chinese yam, also known as cinnamon vine (D. polystachya or D. batatas), is a species of yam grown for its edible tubers. Yams belong to the genus Dioscorea and are native to warmer regions, cultivated as staple food crops in the tropics.123
The Chinese yam is widely cultivated in East Asia. Yam tubers vary in color from white to purple and have a taste ranging from sweet to bitter. Most yams contain an acrid substance that is removed through cooking. True yams are distinct from sweet potatoes, though some varieties of sweet potatoes are often called yams in the United States.1
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