Yam, symbol of joy and abundance, the foundation of the Brazilian diet

Before the arrival of the Portuguese in Brazil, the indigenous people's main food was yam flour, which accompanied hunted meats just like fruit. The natives, from yam, prepared a fermented drink with their saliva after chewing, called cauim, which was psychoactive and traditionally used in ritual festivals, cauinages.

The indigenous people considered yam to have a sacred origin, expressed in legends. According to one legend, the daughter of the Tupi tribe chief realized she was pregnant one day, without having any contact with a warrior.

The worried chief could not explain what had happened; until, while sleeping, the god Tapa appeared in his dreams and told him that his daughter's baby was a gift from the gods to the tribe.

Months later, the girl gave birth to a very beautiful, snow-white girl, whom he named Mani, and she was considered a treasure by all tribe members. The girl grew quickly, but one day she fell ill, and the shamans could do nothing to save her, and she passed away.

According to tradition, Mani was buried, and her mother cried every day over her grave. After some weeks, a plant began to grow on Mani's tomb. The tribe's chief ordered it to be watered, and after a while, a strong root emerged, splitting in half, revealing a white coloration like snow, which they named Maniva, believing the girl had been reincarnated in that plant.

Using the roots of that plant, the tribe prepared dishes and a fermented beverage called Caium.