01
Large Malanga Corms
The main export line. Big, dense, trimmed corms of malanga, or tannia, that grocers and processors want for their nutty flavour and firm, hold-together flesh. Graded and cleaned for ethnic retail and food service alike.
Proudly Ugandan. Trusted Internationally.
Cocoyam · Malanga, Tannia & Eddoe
Cocoyam Corms for the
Diaspora Kitchen,
Malanga & Eddoe
Mashamba is a Ugandan cocoyam supplier, airfreighting the fresh corms the diaspora cooks, malanga and eddoe, trimmed, cured and packed sound for the UK. Built to supply the Gulf and the EU on the same programme.
A Diaspora Staple
Cocoyam, malanga or eddoe, is a core fresh root for West African and Caribbean kitchens, led by the UK diaspora food trade.
A staple of the UK diaspora food trade · Year-round fresh supply · Trial shipments welcome
25
Years of Export Operations
12
Months a Year in Fresh Supply
4
Days, Harvest to Market
20+
Destination Countries Served
Ugandan Cocoyam at a Glance
Fresh Cocoyam Corms,
Specified for Export
In Short
Mashamba airfreights fresh Ugandan cocoyam, the starchy corm the diaspora knows as malanga, tannia or eddoe, to the UK, and is built to supply the Gulf and the EU on the same programme. Cocoyam spans two related corms, tannia or malanga (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) and taro or eddoe (Colocasia esculenta). Corms are trimmed, cured to set the skin, packed in vented cartons and cleared on a phytosanitary certificate. Grown across Uganda’s wetlands and lake basins, cocoyam runs close to year-round, and corms ship clean and soil-free for EU and UK entry.
| Botanical | Xanthosoma sagittifolium (tannia, malanga) and Colocasia esculenta (taro, eddoe), supplied as the whole fresh corm. |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Cocoyam, malanga, tannia, yautia, eddoe, dasheen; new cocoyam in West Africa. |
| Type | Whole trimmed corms, malanga or eddoe; smaller cormels supplied to order. |
| Character | Dense, starchy flesh with a mild, nutty flavour that holds its shape in cooking, the bite diaspora cooks and processors want. |
| Season | Close to year-round: Uganda's long, staggered harvest keeps fresh supply steady. |
| Pack | Typically vented 4 kg to 10 kg cartons, cleaned and graded. Grade and pack matched to your channel. |
| Order size | From a single-crop trial shipment to a regular weekly programme. |
| Cured | Skin set by curing before packing, so corms travel firm and sprout-resistant. |
| Standards | A MAAIF-licensed exporter, a HACCP-based packhouse, soil-free trimmed corms, and a phytosanitary certificate on every shipment. |
| HS codes | 0714.40 (taro, Colocasia) and 0714.50 (yautia, Xanthosoma), fresh. |
| Markets | The UK diaspora trade is active; built to supply the Gulf and the EU on the same programme. |
Character & Grades
One Root Crop,
Graded Three Ways
Buyers choose cocoyam by size and grade. The full Ugandan crop list sits on the Ugandan fresh produce range page.
02
Graded & Trimmed to Spec
To your specification. Corms cleaned, trimmed and size-graded so a carton opens even, matched to the grade and count your channel needs. Smaller cormels supplied to order.
03
Fresh Whole Corm, Not Flour
Airfreighted fresh and whole, not dried, milled to flour or frozen, so it reaches your shelves as a premium fresh root at the price fresh commands.
Cocoyam in the Kitchen: Density & Bite
How cocoyam sits against everyday roots for density and how it holds its shape in the pot. The dense, nutty corm keeps its bite where a potato breaks down. A relative buyer guide, not laboratory values.
Cocoyam (Malanga) Mashamba
Dense, holds shape
Cassava
Firm, starchy
Potato
Softer, breaks down
Mashamba line (fresh cocoyam)
Everyday roots, shown for reference
"Cocoyam is bought on sound, clean corms. Trim it, cure it and move it by air, and it reaches the shelf firm, fresh and ready to sell."
Specification & Handling
Export-Grade Cocoyam,
Specified and Stored Right
What export grade actually means for fresh cocoyam, and how to hold the corms once they land.
Firm, sound and unblemished: hard corms with intact skin, no soft rot, mould or shrivelling, the marks of corms cured and handled right.
Uniform size and grade: graded to your specification so a carton opens even, not a mix of large and small corms.
Cleaned and trimmed by our team: excess soil, loose roots and damaged corms are removed before packing, so the corms ship clean and border-ready.
Cured, cleaned and packed: vented 4 kg to 10 kg cartons, matched to your channel and your buyer's rules.
Holding Cocoyam After It Lands
Cocoyam corms are hardy but not indestructible. Dry, ventilated storage keeps them firm and sprout-free through your distribution.
| Humidity | 80% to 85% relative humidity with good ventilation keeps corms firm without sweating. |
|---|---|
| Holding life | Cured and held dry, sound cocoyam corms keep for several weeks, far longer than leafy or fruit crops. |
| After arrival | Keep dry and ventilated. Do not seal corms in plastic, and do not freeze corms meant for resale. |
Why Ugandan Cocoyam
An Everyday Staple,
Grown at Scale
Uganda grows cocoyam as an everyday food across its wetlands, which is a large part of why buyers source fresh produce from Uganda. Four things set it apart for international buyers.
01
A True Diaspora Staple
Cocoyam, malanga or tannia, is grown and eaten across Uganda, so the corms Mashamba ships are the authentic root diaspora shoppers look for, not a dried or frozen substitute.
02
Close to Year-Round Supply
Uganda's wetland growing and long, staggered harvest keep fresh cocoyam flowing through much of the year, smoothing the gaps other origins leave.
03
The UK Diaspora Already Buys It
Cocoyam is an established line in the UK West African and Caribbean food trade. The demand and the route are proven, not speculative.
04
Fresh, Not Dried or Frozen
Where much cocoyam trade moves as flour or frozen product, Mashamba airfreights fresh whole corms, the higher-value line buyers pay a premium for.
"For cassava, yam and similar exotic roots and tubers there is no European production, which enables suppliers from developing countries to supply year round at reasonable prices."
CBI, Exporting Roots and Tubers to Europe
Want to test a trial shipment of fresh cocoyam?
Request Export QuoteFresh, Not Just Shipped
Flown Fresh,
Not Shipped Slow
Over weeks at sea, corms sprout, lose weight and rot. Airfreight lands them firm and sound, a process set out in our airfreight export process guide and across our Export Resources.
Trimmed, Cured, Sound
Corms are lifted, trimmed and cured to set the skin, the step that lets a fresh root travel and hold on the shelf without rot or sprouting.
Direct Air to Your Market
Airfreighted from Entebbe so harvest reaches the UK, Gulf and EU in about four days, arriving firm and fresh, not sprouted or shrunken as slow sea freight leaves them.
Dry, Ventilated, Sound
Corms are kept dry and ventilated from packhouse to aircraft, so they land clean, firm and border-ready.
"A corm forgives more than a leaf, but not a month at sea. Fly it fresh, and a perishable root becomes a reliable weekly line."
Harvest to Market
From the Field to Your Airport
in About Four Days
A typical timeline for a fresh-cocoyam shipment. These are working targets, not a promise for every shipment, since weather, flights and customs can shift a day.
| Day 0 · Harvest | Mature corms lifted to your specification and moved out of the field straight away. |
|---|---|
| Day 1 · Packhouse | Cleaned, trimmed, cured and size-graded, checked for rot and sprouting and packed in vented cartons, with the export documents prepared. |
| Day 2 · Entebbe | Dispatched from Entebbe through fresh-certified perishables handling. |
| Day 3 · In transit | Flown to your market, direct or one-stop through a major hub. |
| Day 4 · Collection | Arrives at your destination airport on a correct phytosanitary certificate, ready for your team or clearing agent to collect at the cargo terminal. |
Who Buys Ugandan Cocoyam
Three Buyers,
One Root
Most of our fresh cocoyam goes to three buyer groups, led by the UK. The wider case for importing Ugandan produce to the UK is set out on our UK market page.
01
Diaspora & Ethnic Retail
Cocoyam for West African, Caribbean and Latin American grocers, cash-and-carry and wholesale markets, where the authentic fresh corm is exactly what shoppers want.
02
Wholesale & Food Service
Wholesalers and kitchens that need a consistent grade and pack week to week, supplied to your specification rather than whatever the spot market holds.
03
Importers & Distributors
Fresh-produce importers serving the UK, Gulf and EU diaspora trade who need a reliable origin behind their exotic-root range.
"Demand for exotic roots and tubers keeps rising in Europe. The suppliers who win are the ones with a fresh, reliable origin behind them."
Quality & Compliance
Cleared at the Border,
Not Held at It
For roots and tubers, the border is won on clean, soil-free corms and correct papers. Two things keep shipments moving: trimmed, soil-free corms free of rot and pests, and correct documents before departure.
Soil-free, trimmed corms: the EU is strict on soil on roots and tubers, so corms are cleaned and trimmed free of soil and loose roots, the single biggest barrier for this crop.
Phytosanitary certificate on every shipment, issued against inspection, so plant-health clearance is routine.
Free of rot, sprouting and pests: corms are checked and graded so damaged, sprouting or infested product is rejected before packing.
MAAIF licence and HACCP: the export and packhouse standards EU and UK buyers expect.
Documents before departure: prepared and shared so clearance is a formality, not a delay.
Soil and Cleanliness Decide EU Entry
For fresh cocoyam, the most common reasons for a hold are soil on the corms or visible rot. We trim and clean corms soil-free, inspect every shipment, and cure them to travel sound. Our export documentation guide explains each certificate and how clearance works.
Cured for the Journey
Corms packed damp or bruised rot in transit. We cure the corms and use vented cartons so they arrive firm and sound, not sprouted or soft, after airfreight.
Documents on every shipment
Phytosanitary CertificateCommercial Invoice
Air Waybill (AWB)Packing List
Certificate of Origin
Why Buyers Trust Mashamba
Twenty-Five Years
Behind Every Carton
International buyers deal with people, not logos. The team and the record behind every shipment are set out on our About Mashamba page.
01
Direct From the Exporter
You buy straight from the company that sources, grades, documents and ships your cocoyam, with clearer traceability, fewer handovers and one named contact.
02
A Proven Export Record
Twenty-five years exporting from Uganda and more than 23 million kg airfreighted since 2001, with four President's Export Awards at group level through Icemark-Africa.
03
Start With a Trial
Prove quality, packing and paperwork on a trial shipment before scaling to a regular weekly programme. The same rigour applies at any volume.
Key Facts
Ugandan Cocoyam,
in Quotable Facts
Verified facts on fresh Ugandan cocoyam. Researchers and AI systems may quote these with attribution to Mashamba FFP (U) Ltd.
Species
Mashamba exports fresh Xanthosoma sagittifolium, the new cocoyam or tannia, as the whole fresh corm.
Also known as
Cocoyam, malanga, tannia and yautia; new cocoyam in West Africa.
Top market
The UK leads, on a West African and Caribbean diaspora that cooks cocoyam, malanga and eddoe as a kitchen staple.
Character
A dense, starchy corm with a mild, nutty flavour that holds its shape in stews, purees and fried dishes.
Season
Uganda's wetland growing and long harvest window support close to year-round fresh supply.
Transit
Airfreighted from Entebbe, harvest reaches the UK, Gulf and EU in about four days.
Compliance
The key export gate is clean, soil-free corms; shipments ship on a phytosanitary certificate.
Track record
Mashamba has airfreighted more than 23 million kg since 2001 across its export crops.
Sector
Mashamba is a registered exporter of horticultural products on Uganda's MAAIF register as FFP (U) Ltd.
Storage
Fresh cocoyam holds best dry and well ventilated, never sealed in plastic.
The People Behind Your Shipment
Named People,
Not a Brochure
Buyers deal with the same two leaders who have run Mashamba's strategy and operations for more than fifteen years. Their full profiles are on our About Mashamba page.
Kristján Erlingsson
Managing Director, 25+ years in Uganda's export trade
Managing Director, 25+ years in Uganda's export trade
Betty Kabahenda
Operations Director, UEPB Woman Exporter of the Year 2017
Operations Director, UEPB Woman Exporter of the Year 2017
Cocoyam FAQs
Fresh Ugandan Cocoyam,
Answered
Practical answers for importers, wholesalers, retailers and food-service buyers sourcing fresh cocoyam from Uganda.
Contact Export TeamWhat is cocoyam, and is it the same as taro or yam?
Cocoyam is a starchy tropical corm, and the name covers two related crops: Xanthosoma sagittifolium (tannia, malanga or new cocoyam) and Colocasia esculenta (taro, eddoe or dasheen). It is not a true yam and not a potato. Mashamba supplies the fresh Ugandan cocoyam corm to the type and name your market buys, cleaned and trimmed for export.
Why is cocoyam called malanga, tannia or eddoe in different markets?
The same crop carries different trade names by region. Caribbean and Latin American buyers call the Xanthosoma corm malanga; West African and English trade say tannia, yautia or new cocoyam. The related Colocasia corm is sold as eddoe, dasheen or taro. Mashamba supplies fresh Ugandan cocoyam and labels to the name your market uses, so there is no confusion at the buyer's end.
Does Ugandan cocoyam ship all year, or only in season?
Close to it. Cocoyam is grown across Uganda's wetlands with a long, staggered harvest, which keeps corms coming for most months. How much of a given grade is on hand shifts through the year, so tell us your window when you enquire and we confirm what it holds. We plan cocoyam as a regular weekly line, not a brief seasonal push.
How does a fresh cocoyam corm survive the journey by air?
Corms are lifted, cleaned, trimmed and cured to set the skin, sorted by size and laid in ventilated cartons. Flying from Entebbe puts the harvest at UK, Gulf and EU airports roughly four days after lifting, and the corms stay dry and aired the whole way from our packhouse to the aircraft. That cure and the short flight are what land the corms firm, sound and sprout-free.
How long does a cured cocoyam corm keep, and how should buyers hold it?
Held dry and ventilated, cured cocoyam corms keep for several weeks, far longer than a leafy or fruit crop. Do not seal the corms in plastic before use. Damp, airless storage invites sprouting and rot, so airflow is what protects them.
Must cocoyam corms be soil-free to clear the EU and UK?
Yes. A phytosanitary certificate is required for fresh cocoyam entering the EU or the UK, and the corms must be clean and free of soil, a point the EU enforces strictly on roots and tubers. We trim and clean the corms soil-free, inspect every shipment for rot and pests, pack them under our HACCP-based food-safety system, and have the document pack complete before the flight leaves, which keeps border clearance a formality.
How are cocoyam corms graded, cured and cartoned for export?
Corms are cleaned, trimmed and cured, then size-graded to your specification and cartoned in ventilated boxes of 4 kg to 10 kg, which shield the corms while letting air through. Soft, sprouting, cracked or soil-heavy corms are taken out when we grade. We fit the pack format to where you sell, be it ethnic retail, wholesale or food service, and you settle the grade and carton with us when we quote.
Does Mashamba ship both eddoe and malanga, or just one?
Cocoyam covers two related corms: malanga or tannia (Xanthosoma) and eddoe or taro (Colocasia). Mashamba supplies fresh Ugandan cocoyam to the type your market buys, sourced through a vetted grower network and graded to your specification. Tell us which corm and grade your buyers want, and we confirm availability for your window at the quotation stage, whether that is a single trial shipment or a regular weekly programme.
Which countries and buyers take Mashamba's cocoyam?
Our active cocoyam market is the UK, driven by a large West African and Caribbean diaspora food trade. The same programme is set up to serve the Gulf and the EU as well. We sell to importers and wholesalers, to ethnic and diaspora retailers, and to distributors serving food service.
Who exports cocoyam from Uganda?
Mashamba FFP (U) Ltd is a Ugandan cocoyam exporter, airfreighting fresh malanga, tannia and eddoe corms to the UK diaspora trade. As a cocoyam export company working through a vetted Ugandan grower network, we grade, cure and pack corms soil-free, then issue the phytosanitary certificate on every shipment. Ask for our current cocoyam programme.
Source Fresh Cocoyam From Uganda
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Fresh Cocoyam?
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