Jicama Facts for Kids

What am I?

​I come from Mexico where I am commonly set out as a tasty and crunchy snack. 
 
I defend myself with poisonous leaves and beans. My plant looks like peas but the part you eat is in the ground.

Can you guess what I am?​

Where I grow

​The part you eat grows under the ground and is a swollen root. The root swells up instead of branching out and holds all the nutrients. This is how a potato grows, too!

I am usually dug up once I'm the size to fit in the palm of your hand and am 1 to 5 pounds, but I can grow really large. The heaviest of me weighed 21 kg (46 lb 4.8 oz) and was grown by Leo Sutisna in Indonesia.

After I'm picked

​After I'm dug up, I can be stored in a dark place for up to 2 months. Because I defend myself from pests, it's important to cut off my skin and wash me. 

I'm most commonly cut in spears (like fries) and seasoned with chili powder and fresh lime juice. I can also be baked or sautéed and added to stir fry. 

Did you guess... Jicama

​Español: jícama
Pronounced: hi-kuh-muh 
​
Did we stump you? See if you can find jicama at the grocery store. It tastes a lot like an apple with the texture of a raw potato. Remember to peel off the skin before eating it. 

Watch the video to learn more about the health benefits of Jicama!

Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!