Γέλερμασι. Πηγή: Στάλω Λαζάρου.
A type of sweet potato. Yer elmasi was eaten either fresh or fried with wine.
Name - Origin
A type of sweet potato, small in size with an irregular shape that belongs to the species Helianthus tuberosus.
The origin of the word is Turkish (Petasis 1992, 256).
The bulbs of the plant were called kómbi (Petasis 1992, 256).
Yer elmasi was consumed fresh by the inhabitants of Kythrea or cooked using the same process as potatoes antinahtés. Specifically, they would fry the whole bulbs, which were called kompi (knots), then they would add wine over low heat. During the cooking process they would not stir them with a spoon, but rather shake the pot from time to time, a particular cooking method used also for potatoes antinahtes (Petasis 1992, 256).
Yer elmasi was produced in Lapithos. They would wash them to remove the dirt, cut them in half, salt and fry them. Their taste was rather sweet and would be consumed with a drizzle of lemon juice.
Additional information and bibliography
Petasis, G. (1992). Η κωμόπολη της Κυθρέας: ιστορική, αρχαιολογική, πολιτιστική και λαογραφική επισκόπηση, Stelios Livadiotis Ltd., Nicosia.
Dimitra Demetriou / Petroula Hadjittofi
Γέλερμασι. Πηγή: Στάλω Λαζάρου.
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