Manioc is a South-American root also known as sweet macava. Brazil is the worldÕs largest manioc producer. The only region place in the country where it is not cultivated is in the very far south, because of the cold weather. Flour and a kind of root whiskey are also made from it, and It can be cooked or fried. Tacat‡ and manioba are typical Amazon dishes made with manioc. In the state of Par‡ it is used in tucupi , another Brazilian dish. The leaves are often used as food for animals. There are over 1200 varieties of this plant, which is rich in vitamin C, calcium and phosphorus. Season: All year. Varieties: Vassourinha , Paraguayan, and many others.