Editing Yucca (section)

===Gastronomy===
[[File:Flor de izote rumbo a Naolinco 01.jpg|thumb|Harvested yucca flowers on their way to [[Naolinco]], in [[Veracruz]], Mexico]]
The flower petals are commonly eaten in [[Central America]] and Mexico, but the plant's reproductive organs (the [[anthers]] and [[Ovary (botany)|ovaries]]) are first removed because of their bitterness.{{sfn|Pieroni|2005|p=33}}{{sfn|Spurrier|2013}} Petals have a flavor reminiscent of lettuce.{{sfn|Dunmire|Tierney|1997|p=148}}

In addition to being called {{Lang|es|flor de izote}} in Mexico yucca flowers are also called {{Lang|es|flores de palma}} (palm flowers) in [[Hidalgo (state)|Hidalgo]] and [[San Luis Potosí]], {{Lang|es|guayas}}, {{Lang|es|cuaresmeñas}}, or {{Lang|es|chochos}} in [[Veracruz]], and {{Lang|es|chochas}} in [[Tamaulipas]]. In central Mexico, in more rural places they are eaten as a food, as they were in pre-Hispanic times. Bunches are sold in public markets and eaten while very fresh and tender, before they become bitter. They are also cooked with scrambled eggs or in green chile salsa in this area.{{sfn|Muñoz Zurita|2000|p=258}}

Another way that yucca flowers are served is in a sauce after roasting where they are called {{Lang|es|chochos}} in {{Lang|es|tomachile}}. It is served this way as a snack or with salads in the [[Los Tuxtlas]] region of Veracruz.{{sfn|Muñoz Zurita|2000|p=182}} In the northern Mexican state of [[Coahuila]] yucca flowers are considered a traditional food for [[Lent]].{{sfn|Muñoz Zurita|2000|p=195}}

[[File:FLOR DE IZOTE DOS.jpg|thumb|Flower petals prepared Salvadorian style]]
In [[Guatemala]], they are boiled and eaten with lemon juice. In [[El Salvador]], the tender tips of stems are eaten and known locally as {{Lang|es|cogollo de izote}}.{{sfn|Pieroni|2005|p=33}}

These Central American and Mexican culinary traditions have been imported to the United States to areas such as Los Angeles where the flowers of the giant yucca are eaten in season in scrambled eggs, [[pupusas]], and tacos. Before being used as an ingredient the petals are often blanched for five minutes, though they are also eaten raw in small amounts.{{sfn|Spurrier|2013}}

In Mexico the fleshy fruits of some yucca species are called {{Lang|es|datiles}}, the same word as for the fruit of the [[date palm]], though they are unrelated. These fruits are used to produce alcoholic drinks.{{sfn|Muñoz Zurita|2000|p=258}} The edible fruit of the [[banana yucca]] becomes significantly sweeter when cooked with the pulp having a texture similar to applesauce.{{sfn|Zachos|2021}} Raw fruits have a favor similar to [[straightneck squash]].{{sfn|Dunmire|Tierney|1997|p=148}}