Below is a list of all known varieties for Yam (Dioscorea spp.). Click on a variety name to view more detailed nutrient and sourcing information.
| Variety Name | Description |
|---|---|
| African Yam (Dioscorea rotundata) | The principal yam species cultivated in West Africa, known for its large size, starchy texture, and white flesh. |
| Air Potato (Flaked) | The edible form of the aerial tuber, cooked and dried into flakes; used for quick-cooking porridge or as a thickener. |
| Asiatic Yam (Dioscorea esculenta) | A secondary species of yam known for its smaller, cluster-forming tubers and slightly sweeter flavor, popular in Southeast Asia. |
| Ayam (Wild Guinea Yam) | A species of yam (Dioscorea cayenensis) with yellow to white flesh, known for its good flavor and texture in West Africa. |
| Bush Yam | Yam, raw [USDA FDC: 170071] |
| Chinese Yam (Dioscorea polystachya) | A long, cylindrical yam with white flesh; has a mild flavor and is often eaten raw or used for its medicinal properties in TCM. |
| Chinese Yam (Nagaimo) | A starchy, edible tuber cultivated in tropical regions, serving as a significant staple food. |
| Chinese Yam (Sliced/Dried) | Chinese yam that has been thinly sliced and dehydrated; used in traditional Chinese soups and stews for texture and thickening. |
| Cush-Cush Yam | A rare species of yam (Dioscorea trifida) with a delicate flavor and texture, often considered a delicacy. |
| Cush-Cush Yam (Dioscorea trifida) | A tropical yam with white flesh and a delicate, highly prized flavor, often considered a gourmet variety. |
| Diosgenin Extract | A steroid sapogenin extracted from yam roots; used as a precursor for pharmaceutical steroids (linking to Yam as its source). |
| Elephant Foot Yam (Suran) | A starchy, edible tuber cultivated in tropical regions, serving as a significant staple food. |
| Ethiopian Yam (Dioscorea abyssinica) | A small, edible yam native to Ethiopia and Sudan; valued as a regional staple food. |
| Karatas Yam | A specific regional yam variety from West Africa, prized for its excellent flavor and smooth texture. |
| Kokoro Yam | Kokoro Saegusa is a Japanese fashion model. She is represented with Neutral Management. |
| Lesser Yam (Dioscorea esculenta) | A starchy, edible tuber cultivated in tropical regions, serving as a significant staple food. |
| Malaysian Yam | Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370/MAS370) was an international passenger flight operated by Malaysia Airlines that disappeared from radar on 8 March 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia to its planned destination, Beijing Capital International Airport in China. The cause of its disappearance has not been determined. It is widely regarded as the greatest mystery in aviation history, and remains the single deadliest case of aircraft disappearance. |
| Mountain Yam | A starchy, edible tuber cultivated in tropical regions, serving as a significant staple food. |
| Okinawan Yam | Okinawan, or more precisely Central Okinawan, is a Northern Ryukyuan language spoken primarily in the southern half of the island of Okinawa, as well as in the surrounding islands of Kerama, Kumejima, Tonaki, Aguni and a number of smaller peripheral islands. Central Okinawan distinguishes itself from the speech of Northern Okinawa, which is classified independently as the Kunigami language. Both languages are listed by UNESCO as endangered. |
| Prairie Turnip | Pediomelum esculentum, synonym Psoralea esculenta, common name prairie turnip or timpsila, is an herbaceous perennial plant native to prairies and dry woodlands of central North America, which bears a starchy tuberous root edible as a root vegetable. English names for the plant include tipsin, teepsenee, breadroot, breadroot scurf pea, large Indian breadroot, prairie potato and pomme blanche. The prairie turnip continues to be a staple food of the Plains Indians. |
| Purple Yam (Ube) | A brightly colored yam (Dioscorea alata) with purple flesh; sweet and starchy, popular in Filipino desserts. |
| Purple Yam (Ube, Canned) | Purple yam that has been pre-cooked, mashed, and often sweetened; used as a dessert base in Filipino cuisine. |
| Sperling's Potato (Yam) | A type of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) with a rough, brown skin and starchy, slightly sticky flesh. |
| Trinidad Yam | Trinidad and Tobago, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, comprising the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, along with several smaller islets. The capital city is Port of Spain, while its largest and most populous municipality is Chaguanas. Despite its proximity to South America, being on its continental shelf, Trinidad and Tobago is generally considered to be part of the Caribbean. |
| Water Yam (Dioscorea alata) | A species of yam known for its high water content and large size; often boiled and mashed in Caribbean and South American cuisine. |
| White Yam (Guinea Yam) | A major species of yam with white, firm flesh and a mild flavor; common in West Africa. |
| Wild Yam | Wild Yam is a variety of Yam. A starchy, edible tuber cultivated in tropical regions, serving as a significant staple food. |
| Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) | A species of yam with roots traditionally used in herbal medicine; its culinary use is limited due to a high content of natural steroids. |
| Yam (Flaked) | Yam that has been steamed, mashed, and dried into flakes; used for making instant yam porridge (similar to instant potato flakes). |
| Yam Flakes (Dehydrated) | Yam that has been cooked, mashed, and dried into flakes; used for instant yam porridge or as a shelf-stable starch source. |
| Yam Flour | Dried and ground yam flesh; used as a substitute for wheat flour in some African and Caribbean recipes. |
| Yam Flour (Instant) | Yam flour that has been pre-cooked and dried, allowing it to be instantly mixed with hot water to form a soft fufu or dough. |
| Yam FuFu (Powder) | Dried, fermented, and ground yam flour; mixed with hot water to form a sticky dough (fufu), a staple in West Africa. |
| Yam Starch | The purified starch extracted from yams; used as a thickener and binder in food processing. |
| Yamagata | A starchy, edible tuber cultivated in tropical regions, serving as a significant staple food. |
| Yellow Yam | Yellow Yam is a variety of Yam. A starchy, edible tuber cultivated in tropical regions, serving as a significant staple food. |
| Yellow Yam (Congo Yam) | A yam species characterized by its yellowish flesh, which is often drier and more starchy than white yam. |