Voli Ufi

Voli ufi is an edible yam variety grown in the Kingdom of Tonga. The yam belongs to the Dioscorea alata species, also known as white yam or water yam. This type of yam is a part of the group of round yams or yams with short tubers and is prized for its good quality.

The tubers of voli ufi are large and elongated and are defined by a smooth outer skin and white flesh on the inside. Just like other round or short yams, this one is also typically planted from October through December, which is the period of the third traditional planting of yams in Tonga called the tokamui planting season.

The round types of ufi, as they call yams in Tonga, like the voli and kulo ufi varieties, are said to have hard and coarse flesh and are less valued than the ones with long tubers. There are several varieties of voli ufi including voli hako, voli hina, voli kula, and voli leka.