Over in the Andean regions there is the origin of the Yacon tuber root (smallanthus sonchifolius). This tuber is well known to the Andean population, who has been profiting by this healthy and well-tasting plant for centuries. No matter if consumed as salad or as vegetable food or enjoyed simply raw - the Yacon tuber is appreciated as delicate enrichment of the daily menu. It mainly consists of water. The taste is
similar to that of a honey melon or pears.

The main production area of the Yacon tuber is Peru. The small farmers perform the production regarding the biologic guidelines. A great preference of the tuber is its natural protective mechanism against parasites. The farmers can get along without the use of pesticides. The most harvested part of this plant is the root. It is of slightly brown or violet colour and can achieve a weight of 1 kg. It is the power storage of the Yacon plant. After being washed and peeled the root is going to be dried in special ovens to remove any contamination, which is typical for all natural products with a big percentage of water. This special drying method is suitable to preserve all nutrients.
Another drying method is the solar drying. This method, however, supports the bacterial contamination of the root. The sunlight has also a negative impetus on the inulin, which is an important health factor of the Yacon tuber. Sunlight transforms inulin into simple fructose thus destroying its positive impact on the intestinal regulation. Dried Yacon chops or Yacon powder obtain 75% of fructose, which gives it this typical fresh sweetness.

Yacon is an ideal food for diabetics. The fructose in in the Yacon root consist of 35% free and 25% bonded fructose. Thus carbohydrates can be supplied even when the concentration of blood sugar is low. That prevents diabetics from hyperglycaemia (over-activity) and hypoglycaemia ( tiredness, sudden drop of activity). Another very positive effect of this fructose is: In contrast to normal sugar, teeth will not be affected by caries.

While other plants store their carbohydrates as starch, the Yacon plant stores them as inulin, i.e. oligo-fructose, which is well-known as healthy nutrient for the intestinal flora (pre-biotic function).The activation of positive intestinal bacteria protects the spreading of harmful bacteria. And our wellness is very much depending on the well-balanced constitution of our intestine. The blood fat concentration and the constitution of our skin are also profiting by a healthy intestine.

In Brazil many associations of diabetics enjoy and love that delicious sweetness of the Yacon fruit. They tenderly call it their "diabetic potato". Same thing in Japan: here the Yacon fruit has been used for years as natural sweetener, either pure or in connection with different diabetic products

Dried root chops (as of August 2002)
Application: Daily portion: 5-10g, chew properly

80 gr, € 18,95 .