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Yams
Yam is the common name for members of the genus Dioscorea. Some species are cultivated for consumption in Africa
and Asia. The word "yam" is derived from Portuguese inhame or Spanish
ņame, 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.
Yam or Yaw is the name for the Levantine god of
the untamed sea as found in texts from the ancient city of Ugarit.
See Yaw.
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