Organic Raw Yacon

Yacon Recipes

Bunny Spice Shake
Berry Oatmeal Cookie
Peach and Goji Berry Muffins
More Recipes...

Yacon (ya-kon)

a large, crisp tuber, which serves as the root for the perennial yacon plant of the Asteraceae family

Apple of the Earth

Beneath a sprawling, untidy South American plant, lays a powerful health food: the mighty yacon. Often coined the “apple of the earth” due to its inherent sweet and juicy crunch, Yacon is extensively used in its native habitats as both a delicious food and an effective treatment for various ailments. While wonderful eaten fresh, this mellow root also possesses a delicate sweetness that can be extracted and used as a healthy sugar substitute. Navitas Naturals offers yacon in three easy-to-use forms: dried slices, syrup, and powder.

The Power of Yacon

A valuable health food and alternative sweetener, yacon’s greatest attribute is its naturally high content of inulin, a complex sugar that breaks down slowly into fructooligosaccharides (FOS). The high levels of FOS is a quality that is beneficial for two reasons. First, although yacon tastes sweet, the sugar of inulin is not digestible and simply passes through the body. Therefore yacon only contains about half the calories of an average sugar source. Secondly, FOS promotes the production of healthy probiotics within the body, which can contribute to better digestion and colon health.

The Sweetness of Health

Living up to its “apple of the earth” nickname, dried yacon slices have a taste and texture similar to dried apple slices. They make a special condiment when added to salads and are a fresh and new type of snack. The syrup of the yacon has similar flavor to molasses, and is incredible when used in sweet treats, smoothies, or drizzled on top of starchy root vegetables. The powder also sweetens recipes, and is perfect when incorporated into dry or baked goods. Whatever form it’s used in, yacon is an exciting way to add a little more sweetness to your diet, without raising blood sugars or adding a high amount of calories.