When I kicked off this tuber series, I honestly didn’t think I’d make it past 10 posts, but here we are with the 11th one! If you happened to miss the previous entries—featuring Cassava, Sweet potatoes, winged bean tubers, arrowroot, edible canna, Taro and Tannia and Elephant foot yam, Chinese potato, Larger Yam & Lesser Yam—definitely take a moment to check them out!

One crop that’s really been making waves lately is definitely worth talking about! Just a few years ago, I only heard about it in Kerala, but now it’s gaining popularity in several states, and folks have come up with all sorts of local names for it. In Malayalam, it’s called ‘Adathaap’ because the vines twist to the left as they grow. The term ‘Idath’ means left, so it makes sense that ‘idath-aatt’ evolved into ‘adathaap.’ Another name is ‘Irachi kaachil,’ which translates to meaty yam—not because it contains meat, but because it’s packed with protein and it was also been used instead of potato while cooking non veg curries! Isn’t that interesting?

Botanical name: Dioscorea bulbifera
Common names from flowersofindia.net : Aerial yam, Air potato, Air yam, Bitter yam, Cheeky yam, Potato yam, Wild yam • Hindi: ज़िमीकंद Zimikand • Bengali: Kukuralu • Manipuri: ꯐꯨꯝ ꯍꯥ Phum ha • Marathi: कडु करंडा Kadu-karanda • Nepali: भ्याकुर Bhyaakur, गिठ्ठा Giththaa, कुकुर तरुल Kukur Tarul, बन तरुल Ban Tarul • Mizo: Bachhim, Rambachhim • Tamil: Pannu pilangu
Family: Dioscoreaceae (yam family)

Etymology:
Dioscorea: Named after Dioscorides, a Greek physician and botanist from the 1st century CE, who wrote De Materia Medica, an influential text on medicinal plants. This genus includes various species of yams.
bulbifera: From the Latin, meaning “bulb-bearing”(bulbus-fera), referring to the plant’s characteristic of producing aerial bulbils (small, bulb-like structures) along the vine, which can be used for propagation and sometimes food.

Air potatoes are botanically classified at Dioscorea bulbifera and belong to the Dioscoreaceae, which means that they are a yam rather than a potato.

Long before potatoes made their way into the hearts and kitchens of Kerala, air potato was the go-to ingredient that filled that role. You can grow this fascinating plant by letting it climb trees or by spreading it out on structures like trellis. Its spiraling growth pattern gives it a striking resemblance to the leaves of the lesser yam. Plus, you’ll notice small tubers developing on each petiole of the vines, almost like potatoes floating in mid-air!

From a single vine, you can usually harvest 10 to 50 tubers, each weighing between 100 to 500 grams. Additionally, 5 to 10 kilograms of tubers can typically be harvested from underground as well. The vine-grown tubers are usually harvested and used after December.

The tubers from the soil can also be used in curries or boiled dishes like kachil(larger yams). A puzhukku (a kind of mashed, seasoned dish) made by combining it with chembu (taro) is especially tasty. Compared to the tubers that grow underground, the ones that grow on vines are more flavorful.

My farmer friends in Kerala have shared that there are several types of adathaap, and I’m excited to gather all that information soon!

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Based on the chapter “Air Potato: A Long-Forgotten Food Source” from the book Underutilized Crops: Boons to Health, here is a compiled table comparing the nutrient information of Air Potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) with the commonly known Indian Potato (Solanum tuberosum):

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Nutritional Comparison (per 100g fresh weight)

Nutrient	Indian Potato	Air Potato (Dioscorea bulbifera)
Moisture	79.25%	68.80%
Carbohydrates	17.58 g	26.36 g
Protein	2.0 g	4.69 g
Fat	0.1 g	0.56 g
Dietary Fiber	1.6–2.2 g	5.61 g
Ash (Minerals)	~1.0 g	4.12 g
Calcium	10 mg	71.31 mg
Iron	0.81 mg	7.53 mg
Magnesium	23 mg	4.76 mg
Zinc	0.30 mg	1.21 mg
Vitamin C	19.7 mg	14.75 mg
Saponins	Not significant	2.57 mg/g (reduced on boiling)
Tannins	Negligible	2.50 mg/g (reduced on boiling)

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Here are some key takeaways that you’ll definitely want to keep in mind:

Protein & Fiber: If you’re looking for a nutrient-packed option, air potato is the way to go! It has a significantly higher protein and fiber content than your typical Indian potato, making it a fantastic choice for those seeking more nutritional value in their meals.

Minerals & Vitamins: Air potatoes are also a powerhouse when it comes to essential minerals. They’re loaded with calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and zinc, plus they have a great amount of vitamins B1, B3, and C. Talk about a nutritional boost!

Antinutrients: It’s worth noting that air potatoes do contain saponins and tannins. But don’t worry! You can easily reduce these with some proper processing methods like boiling, soaking, or fermentation.

Health Considerations: While air potatoes are packed with nutritional benefits, some varieties might have toxic compounds. So, it’s super important to make sure you identify and prepare them correctly before diving in. Choosing the ones which has smoother outer texture helps to avoid this issue.

Recipes

Make sure you remove the outer skin and the greenish layer which comes right beneath it, before cooking.

• Adathaap Masala
• Chips
• Masala curry
• Air potato curry
• Adathaap fry
• Air potato homefries