Dioscorea alata L.

Uwi (Dioscorea alata) is a climbing plant up to 15 meters long of the Dioscoreaceae family, distributed throughout the Indonesian archipelago and long used as a mixed ingredient in cakes and bread, though now rarely consumed. Its starch-rich tuber is an alternative rice substitute for diabetics. Uwi is also traditionally believed to maintain gut microflora health and have antibacterial properties.

Grows well at elevations up to 1,000 m above sea level, temperature 26-34 °C, average rainfall 1,000-1,500 mm/year, and pH 5.5-6.5. This plant prefers loose, well-drained soil conditions.

• Roots fibrous and shallow.
• Tuber single, large. Tuber skin brown or black, sometimes indented or branching.
• Stem twining, square-shaped, winged, purplish-green in color.
• Leaves single, green or purplish, opposite, heart-shaped, indented base and tapering tip.
• Flowers compound, growing from leaf axils. Has male and female flowers on separate plants.

• Propagated generatively (by seed) and by cutting tubers that have bud eyes.
• Ridges can be made with a spacing of 1.7 m between plants. This plant is cared for by trailing it on bamboo poles or trees.

Anthocyanins, alkaloids, tannins, phenolic, glycosides, saponins, resin, terpenoids, anthraquinone, flavonoids (rutin), polyphenols, quercetin, allantoin, dioscorine.

Headache remedy, maintains gut microflora health, lowers blood sugar levels, addresses swelling, has antioxidant, antihypercholesterolemic (reduces serum cholesterol levels in the body) and antibacterial activity.

• Peel the tuber, wash and slice thinly to a thickness of 0.5 cm.
• Soak for 30 minutes in 1% citric acid.
• Steam at 100 °C for 10 minutes.
• Dry in a cabinet dryer at 50 °C for 24 hours.
• Once dry, grind using a blender.
• Store in a closed, airtight container.

Ubi alabio, Ubi kelapa (Kalimantan), Huwi (Sunda), Same (South Sulawesi), Lutu (Maluku), Obi (Madura).