#yaconblanco

Top: Yacon Morado towering over Spilanthes and Tulsi. Bottom: Yacon Blanco. Yacon is a Quechua word: yacu and unu both mean water, and yakku means watery. It is depicted on textiles and ceramics found in the coastal archaeological sites in Nazca, Peru (500-1200 AD). It was later spread as far as Colombia and northern Argentina by the Incas. The first known written record was in 1615 by Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala, a Quechua nobleman who spoke against the Spanish treatment of native people of the Andes. Yacon has large, sweet, and juicy tubers that were eaten as a thirst quencher by Inca messengers as they travelled the winding paths of the Andes. In Bolivia and beyond, the tubers are eaten by people with diabetes and digestive problems. In Brazil and Japan, people are using the dried leaves to treat diabetes, though a recent study warned that long-term consumption of yacon leaves could cause renal problems. From Peru to northern Argentina, yacon is eaten during the Corpus Cristi festival which displaced the Cápac Raymi festival of Inca times (which also still happens in some places). In Ecuador, yacon is eaten during Todos los Santos and Dia de los Muertos. This plant has been propagated for hundreds of years (if not longer) by dividing the crown and tubers (asexual reproduction), so it is hard to get viable seed unless you cross-pollinate certain different varieties together - something that Cultivariable (in Washington state) and several others are working on successfully. #yacon #yaconblanco #yaconmorado #smallanthussonchifolius #quechuafood #incafood #andeantubers #capacraymi #corpuschristifestival #inulin #diabetes

We lifted ten crates of Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) today, surrounded here by bags of their crowns. The fresh tubers are sweet and juicy - especially after sitting in the sun for a couple weeks in our greenhouse. Yacon is a Quechua word: yacu and unu both mean water, and yakku means watery. It is depicted on textiles and ceramics found in the coastal archaeological sites in Nazca, Peru (500-1200 AD). It was later spread as far as Colombia and northern Argentina by the Incas. The first known written record was in 1615 by Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala, a Quechua nobleman who spoke against the Spanish treatment of native people of the Andes. It was eaten as a thirst quencher by Inca messengers as they travelled the winding paths of the Andes. In Bolivia and beyond, the tubers are eaten by people with diabetes and digestive problems. In Brazil and Japan people are using the dried leaves to treat diabetes, though a recent study warned that long-term consumption of yacon leaves could cause renal problems. From Peru to northern Argentina, yacon is eaten during the Corpus Cristi festival which displaced the Cápac Raymi festival of Inca times (this festival still happens in some places). In Ecuador, yacon is eaten during Todos los Santos and Dia de los Muertos. Thanks to Becca Munro, George Ehrgott, and @pagermanculturalheritagecenter for growing these for the Roughwood Seed Collection! Thanks to @originaltriplechip for lending me your truck today! #Yacon #smallanthussonchifolius #yaconmorado #yaconblanco #roughwoodseedcollection #kutztownseedfarm (at The Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center)

Potted up all my Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) rhizomes from my personal collection in Southwest Philly today. Bummed to have so few of the Yacon Morados (right) that made it through the winter in my basement. Excited to barter, trade, or sell some of the Yacon Blanco plants locally. I also planted two new varieties from Cultivariable: New Zealand and Bekya, which are the two that Cultivariable has found to be most likely to produce viable seeds. I'll plant all four varieties together, collect seed, and try my hand at breeding this, my favoritest Andean tuber. Granted, I'd take potatoes to the desert island for sustenance if I had to choose, but this tuber, related to Sunflowers and Jerusalem Artichokes, is so delicious - and eaten raw like a fruit! #smallanthussonchifolius #yacon #yaconblanco #yaconmorado #bekya #andeantuber