Yams

Yams (ñame in Spanish) are a relative of sweet potatoes. They need a lot of water to grow, so they’re only cultivated in Los Sauces and inside the Caldera. You can recognise a yam patch easily, because they have huge leaves shaped like elephants ears.

The root has to be boiled for hours, so you usually buy them from the supermarket already cooked.Then, traditionally, you serve them with honey or sugar as a dessert. In some places they serve them as part of the main course, with boiled, salted fish.

The texture is reminiscent of chestnuts or fudge – definitely comfort food texture. But the taste is rather unexciting even with honey.

On the other hand, I think a creative cook could do something wonderful with it. Probably involving cream, sugar, rum, maybe mangoes and calories dancing the can-can on top. If I get inspired, I’ll let you know.

Posted by sheila

Sheila came to La Palma with a six month contract and has stayed 24 years so far. She used to work as a software engineer at the observatory, but now she's a writer and Starlight guide.