Yacon, also known as Jerusalem artichoke, Saussurea involucrata and Japanese ginseng fruit, has erect, round stems, purplish red, clustered and 2-3 meters high. Its fruit has irregular roots and pink skin. It is a herbaceous plant of Apocynum in Compositae of Campanulaceae, which is not cold-resistant, its stem will die when it encounters frost, and its root is not easy to be frozen below 0℃, so it is suitable for low latitudes, with an altitude of about 65438.

Yacon and sweet potato are close relatives, aren't they?

Yacon is the root of Jerusalem artichoke, which is native to the Andes in South America. It can be eaten both as a root vegetable and as a fruit. Sweet potato is a tubular flower order, and the root tuber of convolvulaceae is a common starch-rich staple food in China. It can be seen that yacon and sweet potato are different kinds of food from different places of origin, and there is no relationship between them except for their similar appearance. In addition, Saussurea involucrata belongs to Compositae and has nothing to do with Saussurea involucrata.

3 The difference between yacon and sweet potato 1, the difference of origin Yacon: Yacon originated in the Andes of South America, and is now mainly planted in Yunnan, Sichuan, Taiwan Province, Fujian and other places in China.

Sweet potato: Sweet potato was introduced to China from Nanyang at the end of 16, and now it is planted all over China.

2, appearance difference Yacon: Yacon skin feels smooth, skin color is similar to a certain variety of sweet potato, brownish yellow, pulp is white, light yellow or bright golden yellow.

Sweet potato: The skin of sweet potato is rougher than that of yacon. According to different varieties, the skin color will be different. Common sweet potato colors are white, brown, red, brown and purple.

3, taste difference Yacon: Yacon tastes crisp and sweet, similar to the taste of pear, but also compared to white radish, with heavy sweetness and light spicy taste. Some people still think it has a special earthy smell.

Sweet potato: The taste of sweet potato is rough and the sweetness is lighter than that of yacon. Generally, it is not eaten raw directly, but is mostly used for cooking.

4. Different nutritional effects of Yacon: Yacon is mainly composed of water and oligosaccharides, and also contains cellulose, vitamins, minerals and other ingredients. It has many functions such as promoting digestion, relaxing bowels, promoting fluid production and reducing fire, assisting in lowering blood sugar and blood pressure.

Sweet potato: Sweet potato is rich in protein, starch, cellulose, amino acids, vitamins and various minerals, and has the functions of tonifying deficiency, invigorating spleen, stimulating appetite and strengthening kidney.

5. In the price difference market, the price of yacon is about 3-5 yuan kilo, and the price of sweet potato is about 2-3 yuan kilo. Depending on the origin and quality, the price will fluctuate, but relatively speaking, yacon may be a little more expensive.

4 avoid eating yacon 1 and overeating, which will easily increase the burden on the stomach and lead to abdominal pain, diarrhea and other discomfort, especially for people with poor digestive function of the spleen and stomach or during diarrhea.

2. Eat more foods with high dietary fiber. Yacon contains high dietary fiber and cannot be eaten with foods rich in dietary fiber. Otherwise, there will be abdominal distension, diarrhea and other hazards.

3, allergies avoid eating a very small number of people will have diarrhea, nausea and other allergic reactions after eating yacon. In severe cases, there may even be hazards such as accelerated breathing, unconsciousness and shock, which are not suitable for allergic people.

4, body cold diarrhea avoid eating yacon, it contains dietary fiber, pectin, water and other ingredients. It has a good laxative effect after eating. For example, people with cold body, eating yacon can easily aggravate the cold in the body, leading to stomach cold, bloating and diarrhea. People with diarrhea will aggravate the condition of diarrhea and is not conducive to the recovery of the disease.