POPADS
The full plant and root tubers perfectly answering - what is cassava?

What is Cassava, also Known as Yuca, Mandioca, Tapioca or Manioc?

by

Cassava, scientifically known as Manihot esculenta, is an edible starchy root crop native to South America, also grown in Africa and Asia. What is cassava?

Yuca is used for food and industrial purposes, making it an important part of many economies and cassava farming, a venture worth exploring.

This introductory article will define and describe the plant – cassava, covering basic aspects such as botanical description, physical appearance, varieties, and more.

Recommended: The Many Different Names of Cassava

Key Takeaways

  • Cassava, also known as yuca, mandioca, tapioca, or manioc, is an important staple food for millions worldwide, especially in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, providing energy and sustenance to many communities.
  • The cassava tapioca plant is used for both food and industrial purposes, making it a valuable crop for business opportunities and farming ventures worth exploring.
  • While cassava has many uses and benefits, it is important to note that it can be toxic in its raw form due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides, requiring proper preparation before consumption to avoid poisoning.

Related: Cassava Stems: Varieties and Propagation

What is Cassava Tapioca Plant?

The cassava is a tropical plant also known as yuca, mandioca, manioc, or tapioca, with edible tuberous roots, grown for its gluten-free products, and can be baked, cooked, or fried.

Yuca is a basic food for millions of people around the world, especially in Africa, Asia, and Latin America – delivering nutrition, and energy and sustaining the poor. Check the nutritional information of cassava here.

Yuca is drought-resistant and can grow on various soil types and unfavourable soil conditions.

Packed with calories, vitamins, and minerals, it is the darling of the tropical population because of its numerous products.

Recommended: How to Process Cassava

Table of Contents

Cassava Tapioca Plant – My Town’s Most Favourable Crop

Growing up in the Southern part of Nigeria where the plant thrives, precisely, Abia State, cassava was and is still the most popular crop that is cultivated by every family.

Every family has several manioc farms at different levels of maturity around the year.

I participated in the cassava value chain and have garnered a wealth of firsthand experience and have a lot to share and answer the question – what is cassava?

Botanical Description and Taxonomy of the Cassava Tapioca Plant

Botanically, cassava is a perennial shrub that produces fleshy, tuberous roots rich in starch and belongs in the Euphorbiaceae family with other plants such as Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis), Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), Croton (Codiaeum variegatum), Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), Chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera) etc.

Physical Description of Cassava Tapioca Plant

The yuca plant can be identified by the following characteristics:

Stem

The stem of the manioc plant has an average diameter of 10 cm and can grow up to 10 feet tall.

It has bumpy nodes along the stem which are where the plumules shoot out from when sprouting and are arranged along the stem in opposite directions.

Leaves

The palmate leaves of the yuca plant are simple, lobed, and arranged in a spread form with petioles (leaf stems) up to 30 cm in length and are good sources of vitamins and protein.

Roots/Tubers

The roots or tubers of the yuca plant are long with narrow ends. It has a firm, homogeneous flesh cloaked in a detachable rind.

The tubers are rich in starch and contain small amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin C. They come in white, brown, or reddish colours depending on the variant.

Behaviour

Cassava is a resilient and drought-tolerant crop that can grow on marginal soils. It is propagated by planting stem cuttings in the soil and can be harvested 9-12 months after planting.

The cassava plant is susceptible to many cassava pests and diseases including cassava mosaic disease, cassava brown streak disease and more. Using biological and chemical methods can get rid of pests and diseases.

The yuca plant must be properly prepared and the toxins gotten rid of before consumption as it contains cyanide in reasonable quantities.

Related: Is Cassava Good for You?

Economic Importance of the Yuca Plant

Yuca is the third-largest source of carbohydrates sourced from foods in the tropics, behind rice and maize.

It is a major staple food in the developing world, a source of fundamental diet for over half a billion people around the world.

The yuca plant is also used in the production of cassava flour, starch, ethanol, and animal feed. It’s a good business opportunity for entrepreneurs when the cassava value chain is in consideration.

Its hay is used as animal feed and it plays a role in the adhesives, textiles, and cosmetics industry.

Toxicity of Cassava Manioc

While I have never witnessed cassava poisoning, what many people may not know is that the plant and its root are toxic, containing cyanogenic glycosides in their raw form, which can release cyanide when consumed.

While cooking can reduce the levels of cyanide, improper preparation or consumption of large quantities of raw or undercooked cassava can lead to cyanide poisoning.

Cassava as a Staple Food

The yuca plant serves as a staple food for millions of people worldwide. It is easy to grow, and provides a reliable source of carbohydrates in many diets like garri and fufu.

It can be prepared in various ways, including boiling, frying, or mashing, and is used in a wide range of dishes such as cassava bread, porridge, and chips.

Its starchy texture and neutral flavor make it a popular choice for meals that provide sustenance and energy to communities around the world.

More on cassava-based foods and recipes around the world.

Types of Cassava Tapioca/Yuca Plant

Cassava is of two main types: sweet and bitter. The sweet cassava variant has low levels of cyanogenic glucosides.

Bitter cassava tapioca plant variant has higher levels of these compounds and requires processing to remove the toxins before consumption.

Like many other roots and tubers, both bitter and sweet varieties of cassava are toxic, with bitter varieties containing larger amounts.

To minimize the toxicity of yuca, it must be prepared in ways that dislodge the toxin either by fermentation through soaking for many days, or cooking.

The more toxic varieties of cassava have been used in some places as famine food during times of food insecurity.

Farmers often prefer the bitter varieties because they deter pests, animals, and thieves.

Cassava Tapioca Plant Varieties

The varieties of cassava are in hundreds found worldwide, each with distinct characteristics and uses.

The most popular varieties include:

1. TMS 30572: A high-yielding, disease-resistant variety popular in West and Central Africa.

2. Rayong 5: This is a popular variety in Thailand suitable for both food and industrial purposes.

3. Secundina: Secundina is a sweet variety that is commonly grown in Brazil and used for food and animal feed.

4. Manihot glaziovii: Manihot glaziovii is a wild relative of cassava that is used as a rootstock to improve the disease resistance of cultivated varieties.

Related: Manioc Foods in Latin America

Introduction to Uses of Cassava Tapioca

Cassava has a wide range of uses, including:

Food: As described throughout this post, yuca is a staple food in many parts of the world and is used in various dishes, such as stews, soups, and baked goods.

Animal Feed: Cassava is used as a source of protein and energy for livestock.

Industrial Applications: Cassava is used in the production of starch, ethanol, and other industrial products.

Pharmaceuticals: Cassava contains bioactive compounds with potential pharmaceutical applications.

Cassava Tapioca Plant Products

The tubers are used to produce high-quality cassava flour (HQCF), starch, ethanol and other foods based on cassava.

Other products include packaged garri, instant odourless fufu, dried cassava chips, sugar syrups and sweeteners, and beer.

Cassava is also used in the production of biofuels, animal feed, and pharmaceuticals.

Additionally, it is used to make various food items such as fufu, bammy, and tapioca.

The plant’s leaves are also edible and are used in soups and stews.

Interesting Facts About the Cassava Tapioca Plant

  • Cassava is mentioned in many South American myths, including the tales of the Shuar people of the Ecuadorian Amazon region, where it is associated with the goddess of food, Núnkui.
  • The indigenous peoples of central Brazil construed the constellation of Orion as a huge frame for drying cassava.
  • In its raw state, the cassava root is extremely toxic because of its linamarin content and is inedible for predators. The plant collects this cyanide-like glucoside in membrane-enclosed, fluid-filled storage cavities in the cells known as vacuoles. If the roots and thus the cells are damaged, linamarin is released from the vacuoles and converted to toxic cyanide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The Cassava tapioca plant, also known as yuca or manioc, is a starchy root crop that has been a staple food for centuries.

Native to South America, it is now grown in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.

With its high nutritional value and adaptability to poor soils, cassava plays a crucial role in the diets of millions.

Its various forms, including tapioca and garri, are used in a range of products, from food to industrial applications.

I hope this succinct post was able to answer the basic question – what is cassava?