Photo: USDA Flickr
No, they are not the same. In fact, you’ve probably never eaten an actual yam. Here’s the difference.
Sweet potatoes are members of the morning glory family. Fresh sweet potatoes are harvested in the fall. They are sweeter than yams and more slender than a russet potato. Sweet potatoes are available in four colors:
- Rose-colored skin with orange flesh.
- Pale copper-tan skin with white flesh.
- Red skin with dry white flesh.
- Purple skin and flesh.
Yams are related to lilies and are very starchy in texture. They are less sweet, larger and have a short shelf life. They look more like logs with a thick skin. Yams must be cooked as they may contain toxins.
When the orange-fleshed sweet potato variety was brought to the U.S., they were referred to the African word “nyami,” “njam,” or “djambi” and labeled as yams.
Learn more from the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission.
