It is cultivated for its large, starchy, spherical corms (underground stems), commonly known as “taro root,” which are consumed as a cooked vegetable, made into puddings and breads, and also made into the Polynesian poi, a thin, pasty, highly digestible mass of fresh or fermented taro starch.

Avocado fruits have greenish or yellowish flesh with a buttery consistency and a rich nutty flavour. They are often eaten in salads, and in many parts of the world they are eaten as a dessert. Mashed avocado is the principal ingredient of guacamole, a characteristic saucelike condiment in Mexican cuisine

The apple is one of the pome (fleshy) fruits. Apples at harvest vary widely in size, shape, colour, and acidity, but most are fairly round and some shade of red or yellow. The thousands of varieties fall into three broad classes: cider, cooking, and dessert varieties.

An onion is a round vegetable with a brown skin that grows underground. It has many white layers on its inside which have a strong, sharp smell and taste. Will you chop an onion up for me? It is made with fresh minced meat, cooked with onion and a rich tomato sauce.

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L. and Capsicum frutescens L.) is a hot-tasting tropical berry belonging to the Solanaceae family. It was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in tropical America,2 and its use spread rapidly throughout the world because of its pungent flavour. 

Ginger is a knotted, thick, beige underground stem, called a rhizome. The stem sticks up about 12 inches above ground with long, narrow, ribbed, green leaves, and white or yellowish-green flowers.

Amaranthus Thunbergii is an erect or ascending, annual plant growing around 50cm tall. The stem can simple or branched. The edible leaves and seeds are sometimes gathered from the wild and used locally.

A grape tomato is a class of tomatoes believed to be of southeast Asian origin, shaped similarly to the oval plum tomatoes but having the small size and sweetness of cherry tomatoes. Grape tomatoes produce small and typically oblong fruits.

Peas are an annual climbing herb that grow, depending on the variety, between 1 to 3 m tall on a cylindrical stem. The roots grow up to 1.2 m down into the soil. The leaves grow alternately along the stem, with each leaf having up to 4 pairs of leaflets (smaller leaf-like structures) and ending in a tendril. Soybeans are valued for their nutritional benefits, versatility in cooking, and agricultural importance as a rotation crop.

Grapes are bulb-shaped fruits. They can be eaten fresh, dried to make raisins, or crushed to make grape juice or wine. There are more than 8,000 varieties of grape. Grapes grow in wooded and warm regions of the world.

Parsley is an herb grown for the pungent flavored leaves. Parsley, Petroselinum crispum, is a hardy biennial in the carrot family (Umbelliferae/Apiaceae) generally grown for its flavorful, dark green leaves that are a rich source of vitamin C, vitamin A and iron.

The banana is a lengthy yellow fruit, found in the market in groups of three to twenty fruits, similar to a triangular cucumber, oblong and normally yellow. Its flavour is more or less sweet, depending on the variety. The banana is rich in fibre, potassium and some beneficial vitamins for health.

A herb growing from a strongly aromatic, rounded bulb composed of around 10 to 20 cloves covered in a papery coat. The long, sword-shaped leaves are attached to an underground stem and the greenish-white or pinkish flowers grow in dense, spherical clusters atop a flower stalk.

The red bean, also called Dark Red Kidney (DRK), has a bright red color and has a floury consistency. Red beans are valuable allies for the health of the body. Containing minerals and trace elements, they therefore present themselves as a very energetic and nutritious food.

Sweet potatoes are a type of root vegetable that are high in vitamins and minerals. They are also a good source of fiber and antioxidants.

Pineapples are tropical fruits that are rich in vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants. They are native to South America, but are now grown in many tropical countries. Pineapples are eaten fresh or canned and are used in juices, desserts, salads and as a complement to meat dishes.

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a flowering plant species of the Cucurbitaceae family and the name of its edible fruit. It is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, with more than 1,000 varieties1. The fruit contains vitamins A, C, and B6; potassium, calcium, and iron; beta-carotene and fiber; citrulline and lycopene, two powerful plant compounds; only 5% sugar, which is half the sugar content in an apple; zero fat, cholesterol or sodium. Watermelon rinds have less sugar and more fiber than their flesh and also contain citrulline. Watermelon seeds are rich in magnesium and folate, which help your body work well and avoid disease.

White beans are a type of legume that is white on the inside and has a starchy interior. They have a delicate, slightly nutty flavor, making them the perfect addition to a wide range of dishes. White beans are a gluten-free source of protein and they also contain high amounts of dietary fiber, potassium, and complex carbohydrates.

The black turtle bean is a small, shiny variety of the common bean especially popular in Latin American cuisine, though it can also be found in the Cajun and Creole cuisines of south Louisiana. Like all varieties of the common bean, it is native to the Americas, but has been introduced around the world. 

Taro Root

Recommendations