Avatar photo

By Citizen Reporter

Journalist


The magic of Amadumbe (Madumbi)

Get to know your amadumbe better and find out how it can benefit your health.


Madumbe is known and used by all South Africans. It’s the yummy sister of the potato. Like the potato it’s a root vegetable and it’s loaded with nutrients and vitamins.

The Madumbe goes by other names such as yams, gabi and popularly known to the world as the Taro Root.  According to organic facts.com,  the madumbe’s scientific name is Colocasia esculenta. It is a staple food in African, Indian, and Oceanic cuisines, but it can be found everywhere from Japan, Egypt, and Suriname to the United States, Fiji, and Spain.

So how can madumbe benefit your health:

  • Improve digestion,
  • Lower blood sugar levels
  • Prevent certain types of cancers
  • Protect the skin, enhance vision
  • Increase circulation
  • Decrease blood pressure
  • Aid the immune system
  • Prevent heart disease
  • Support muscle and nerve health

The Madumbe or Taro Root can be enjoyed in many ways, in curries, boiled with a bit of pepper for seasoning or baked into healthy chips.

WATCH: Learn how to make madumbe (Taro Root) chips

Originally appeared on Southlands Sun

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.

Access premium news and stories

Access to the top content, vouchers and other member only benefits