What is the origin of sweet potatoes and how do they differ from yams?

Answer 1

The sweet potato is found in tropical America and is a part of the Morning Glory family.

The yam is a tuber (a bulb) of a tropical vine found in Central & South America, as well as the West Indies, Africa and Asia. Varieties There are mainly two varieties of sweet potato. The pale sweet potato has a very thin yellow skin with a bright yellow flesh. This variety is neither sweet nor moist, but more the texture of a white baking potato. The darker skinned sweet potato has a thicker orange skin with a sweet moist flesh.

The true yam is not marketed or grown widely in the United States. Where it is marketed, is usually in Latin American markets. A yam can be as small as a potato and can grow as large as 7 feet and weigh over 120 pounds! The flesh can range in color from off-white to yellow to pink to purple! The skin color can be from off-white to a dark brown.

Answer 2

Yams are a whitish/yellowish root vegetable available in Africa, and hardly ever seen here in the US or in Europe. American sweet potatoes were called Yams (an African name) by native Africans living here because they resembled yams from back in Africa.

Answer 3

Its all in the way you cook them. Yams are sweet potatoes though ;o)

Answer 4

Yams become "candy Potatoes" once you upload the Brandy, Brown Sugar and marshmallows....suited? i like those for the duration of the trip journeys or on Sundays. in any different case, i like regulare potatoes.

Answer 5

I don't really know.. but I accidentally got yams once Uck.. Sweet potatoes are yummy..

Answer 6

sweet potatoes have sugar

Answer 7

I always thought they were the same, just a different name.