Camote is a type of sweet potato. It is known as "camote" in Mexico, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Central America, and the Philippines, and "batata" in Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. In the Philippines, sweet potatoes are an important food crop in rural areas and are often a staple among impoverished families in provinces, as they are easier to cultivate and cost less than rice. The tubers are boiled or baked in coals and may be dipped in sugar or syrup. Young leaves and shoots are eaten fresh in salads with shrimp paste or fish sauce. In Mexican slang, "camote" means friend, homies, homeboys, camaradas, or buddies. In some regions of Mexico, "camotes de Puebla" are traditional sweet potato treats made with a simple syrup and natural flavorings added to cooked and mashed sweet potatoes.