Originated in the Andes of South America, it has been planted in Peru, Argentina, China, Yunnan and Taiwan Province Province, and successfully introduced and cultivated in Yunnan, Fujian, Hainan, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Shandong, Sichuan, Henan and Hebei.
The inhabitants of the Andes grow this plant as a root vegetable. The tuberous root of Jerusalem artichoke is rich in water and fructooligosaccharides. It tastes sweet and crisp and can also be eaten as fruit.
The edible part of yacon is root block, which looks like sweet potato. . The potato pieces are juicy and contain no starch. They are eaten raw, fried or cooked, and the taste is crisp and tender, slightly sweet and refreshing. Much like white radish, it is sweet and spicy.
Potato pieces and leaves can be processed into drinks. Buds used for reproduction are located at the root neck and look like ginger slices. Head with yellow tongue-shaped petals at the edge.
Yacon is delicious and has high nutritional value, but if it is eaten too much or improperly, it will do some harm to human body. This is because yacon is a cold food, which contains some chemical elements, which will be oxidized when exposed to air, and will produce some adverse reactions after being absorbed by the human body.
Eating too much yacon will flatulence and fart, which will make you depressed and uncomfortable. However, it is a good sign that yacon is playing its role in regulating your gastrointestinal function.
In order to prevent oxidation discoloration of yacon, we can soak peeled and cut yacon in clear water, which can isolate the air and prevent oxidation discoloration. In addition, buying fresh yacon and eating it after peeling also avoids the intake of melanin caused by chemical reaction.
References:
Baidu encyclopedia? yacon