What is the difference between a Sweet Potato and a Yam?
A Sweet Potato is not the same as a Yam. Yams are rarely grown commercially in the United States; it is unlikely you will encounter them. The true Yam might resemble a Sweet Potato in color or shape, but it grows on a tropical vine and can be as large as 100 pounds. Some Latin American stores in the United States sell Yams in chunks. Two main types of Sweet Potatoes are grown in this country. The firm-fleshed Sweet Potato is the paler of the two. Tan in color, it has a creamy, yellowish flesh. It has a mealy, dry texture when cooked and lacks a real sweet taste. On the other hand, the bright, soft-fleshed Sweet Potato is moist and sugary. Its jacket is copper-red and its flesh is orange to deep red. This is the variety that often is advertised and sold under the name “Yam.” The FDA Standards of Identity for Miscellaneous Vegetables States: “***The term “yam” in certain parts of the country, notably the South, has come to mean not Sweet Potatoes in general but certain varieties, and per
Several decades ago when orange flesh sweet potatoes were introduced in the southern United States producers and shippers desired to distinguish them from the more traditional white flesh types. The African word “nyami” referring to the starchy, edible root of the Dioscorea genus of plants was adopted in its English form, “yam”. Yams in the U.S. are actually sweet potatoes with relatively moist texture and orange flesh. Although the terms are generally used interchangeably, the U.S. Department of Agriculture requires that the label “yam” always be accompanied by “sweet potato.” The following information outlines several differences between sweet potatoes and yams. FACTORSWEET POTATOYAM Scientific name Ipomoea batatasDioscorea Species Plant family Morning glory CONVOLVULACEAEYam DIOSCOREACEAE Plant groupDicotyledonMonocotyledon Chromosome number2n=90 (hexaploid)2n=20 Flower characterMonoeciousDioecious Historical beginning (Peru, Ecuador)Prehistoric50,000 BC Edible storage organStorage
In the United States, the term “yam” is usually mistakenly used to label orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. Yams—thick, white tubers with little flavor—are actually not related to sweet potatoes at all. Sweet potatoes originated in South America and come in dozens of varieties; the orange-fleshed ones in question are only eaten in the United States. Yams, on the other hand, are rarely available in the United States, though they are popular in South and Central America, the West Indies, many Pacific islands, and parts of Asia and Africa. Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes have a rich, sweet flavor; yams are particularly bland, starchy vegetables that are best used as a background for more flavorful accompaniments. Sweet potatoes typically have a smooth skin, while the skin of yams is rough and somewhat shaggy. In the supermarket, you will generally see what is technically a sweet potato labeled as a yam. You are unlikely to find a true yam at your average supermarket, so if you are shopping for
