Having eaten a "torta de yuca," I decided to find out about the origins of this root. Looking online, I found that yuca is actually "cassava." More, cassava is the third highest carbohydrate source in the tropics.  And because the first European sailors who settled the West Indies couldn't grow wheat on those tropical islands, they substituted cassava for bread. Also, it was introduced to Africa with corn, too. Below are shots of a torta de yuca prepared at home. Call it original comfort food.