Plant atlas Short
Jicama: The Crunchy Tuber That Feeds Gut Bacteria
Jicama / Yam Bean · มันแกว · Pachyrhizus erosus
Jicama / Yam Bean — มันแกว (man-kaew) — Pachyrhizus erosus.
Jicama — มันแกว, mun-gow — is a crisp, sweet tuber. An in-vitro study found jicama inulin supported bacterial growth; it was not a human blood-glucose trial. The tuber also provides vitamin C and potassium. Fiber adds bulk to meals, can help with fullness, and can slow carbohydrate absorption as part of a mixed diet. Pailin Krob serves crunchy, butterfly pea-stained jicama gems in sweet, fragrant coconut milk over crushed ice. Tom Jued Man Kaew simmers sweet jicama chunks and dried shrimp into a clear, savory broth, eaten hot with jasmine rice. The vine grows rapidly and throws out purple flowers. How to eat jicama safely: the crisp tuber only — the seeds, pods, leaves, and vines are toxic.
Pailin Krob — ไพลินกรอบ (pai-lin-krob)
Yam Bean Clear Soup — ต้มจืดมันแกว (tom-jued-man-gaew)
Food and nutrients
Rich in: fiber (inulin), vitamin C, potassium
Research context
Jicama inulin feeds beneficial gut bacteria and is non-glycemic — J Food Sci Technol, 2023 (lab + animal)
Sources
Source: Bhanja A, Paikra SK, Sutar PP, Mishra M (2023). Inulin from Pachyrhizus erosus: antioxidant & in-vitro prebiotic efficacy. J Food Sci Technol 60(2). DOI:10.1007/s13197-022-05619-6. PMC9813300
Narration transcript
Opening
You eat this plant's crunchy, apple-sweet tuber raw, but everything else on the vine is poison. The leaves, pods, and seeds carry rotenone, a toxin the plant makes to kill insects. Jicama — มันแกว, mun-gaew. Only that underground tuber is food, peeled and eaten crisp and cool.
ไพลินกรอบ (Pailin Krob)
Pailin krob tumbles crunchy butterfly-pea-blue jicama gems into sweet coconut milk with fresh jackfruit over ice.
ต้มจืดมันแกว (Yam Bean Clear Soup)
Tom jued man kaew simmers sweet jicama chunks with dried shrimp into a clear broth, eaten hot with steamed jasmine rice.
Nutrition summary
That cool, crunchy tuber brings a solid hit of fiber and vitamin C, plus a trace of copper.
Fiber
Fiber adds bulk to meals and can help with fullness.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is used to build collagen and helps protect cells from oxidative stress.
Potassium
Potassium helps with normal fluid balance and muscle function.
Closing
The vine climbs quickly and throws out pretty purple, pea-like flowers, but if they set pods, keep those away from the table. Eat only the tuber; the seeds, leaves, and vines all carry rotenone. Follow Longevity Biome, and LIKE this video for regular updates.
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