
Roots and Tubers (Yams)
Roots and tubers (yams) are staple foods in Sri Lanka, rich in nutrients and flavor. Common varieties include kiri ala (white yam), kahala, innala, and bataala (sweet potato), used in traditional curries and steamed dishes.
Raja Ala (රාජ අල)
“Dioscorea alata” is a species of yam commonly referred to as purple yam, ube, violet yam, or water yam. This tuberous root vegetable originates from Southeast Asia and is often confused with taro root. An indigenous staple of the Philippines, it’s now cultivated and enjoyed worldwide.Purple yams have greyish-brown skins and purple flesh, and their texture becomes soft like a potato when cooked. They have a sweet, nutty flavor and are used in a variety of dishes ranging from sweet to savory. What’s more, they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, all of which may benefit your health.
7 surprising health benefits of purple yam.
- Highly nutritious
- Rich in antioxidants
- May help manage blood sugar
- May help lower blood pressure
- May help reduce the risk and symptoms of asthma
- Promotes gut health
- Very versatile
Taro root grows from the taro plant, and unlike purple yams, they are not a species of yam. Purple yams are an incredibly nutritious starchy root vegetable. Their powerful antioxidants may help reduce your blood pressure and blood sugar levels. They are tasty and versatile with a vibrant color, making them an exciting ingredient that can be used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes.
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Arrow root (හුලංකීරිය)
Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) is a tropical tuber native to Indonesia. People use the root and rhizome (underground stem) of arrowroot as a source of starch. It is usually processed into a powder.
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Sweet Potato (කහ බතල)
The sweet potato or sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the bindweed or morning glory family, Convolvulaceae.
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Asparagus racemosus (හාතවාරිය අල)
Asparagus racemosus is a woody, climbing plant used in Ayurvedic medicine. It's considered endangered and It might also stimulate the immune system.
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Casava (මඤ්ඤොක්කා)
Cassava, (Manihot esculenta), also called manioc, mandioca, or yuca, tuberous edible plant of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) from the American tropics. It is cultivated throughout the tropical world for its tuberous roots, from which cassava flour, breads, tapioca are derived
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Elephant Foot Yam (කිඩාරන් අල)
Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, the elephant foot yam or whitespot giant arum, is a tropical tuber crop grown primarily in Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia. Because of its production potential and popularity as a vegetable in various cuisines.
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Dioscorea esculenta ( කුකුළල)
Dioscorea esculenta, commonly known as the lesser yam, is a yam species native to Island Southeast Asia and introduced to Near Oceania and East Africa by early Austronesian voyagers. It is grown for their edible tubers, though it has smaller tubers.
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Indian Shot (බුත්සරණ)
Buthsarana grows well in the wet zone and lowlands of Sri Lanka. This yam variety grows up to 5-6 feet producing aggregated yams. Its leaves are fairly wide and elongated.
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Chinese potato (ඉනි අල)
commonly known as native or country potato in Africa and called Chinese potato in India, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the mint family. It is cultivated for its edible tubers primarily in West Africa, as well as more recently in parts of Asia.
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Five Leaf Yam (කටු අල)
Five Leaf Yam is climbing plant, with compound leaves. Tubers are irregular, usually long ovoid, transverse section white when fresh, becoming brown, roots fibrous. Leaves are alternately arranged on the twining stems
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Greater yam (රාජ අල)
Dioscorea alata, also known as purple yam or greater yam is a species of yam. The tubers are usually a vivid violet-purple to bright lavender in color, but some range in color from cream to plain white.
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Higurala (හිඟුරල)
Hingurala is a species of yam. These are very useful food for pregnant women, they are a very valuable medicine that helps to fix the walls of the uterus and strengthen the fetus.
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Lotus Root (නෙලුම් අල)
lotus root is actually the stem of the plant. Growing as long as four feet.Fresh roots are light brown in colour while the matured ones are dark brown.
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Taro (ගහල අල)
Colocasia esculenta is a tropical plant grown primarily for its edible corms, a root vegetable most commonly known as taro, among many other names.