If you ’ve ever been disconcert aboutyams and sweet spud , it ’s for good reason . The condition are used interchangeably to delineate these tuberous root vegetables , even thoughthey’re quite different . In fact , they ’re not even part of the same genus .
There ’s a fairish explanation for mix - up . It dates to the thirties when a researcher at Louisiana State Universitydeveloped a newfangled type of potatoand called it a yam . But that was n’t a yam ; it was a sweet potato ( more on that in moment ) .
What Is a Sweet Potato?
perfumed potatoesare tuberous root vegetables that are part of theConvolvulaceaor morning time glory family . Sweet potatoes arenative to South and Central America , but have grown in North America since the mid-1600s .
The most common sweet white potato vine in the U.S. has bright - orange tree soma , a chocolate-brown or reddish cutis , and a shape that bulges in the centre and tapers at the ends . mellifluous potatoes also can have regal — or even white — flesh .
As the name incriminate , these tubers are sweet . One of the best ways to get up them is to roast them because when theycaramelize , they become even sweeter . Sweet potatoesalso can be served mashed , pureed and of course as fries . They ’re the main ingredient in one of our favorite Thanksgiving dishes , sweet white potato vine pie .
What Is a Yam?
Like angelic potatoes , yams also are genus Tuber , but they ’re part of theDioscoreagenus and theDioscoreaceaefamily , known for Gunter Wilhelm Grass and the lily flower . Yams are native to Africa and Asia and there aremore than 600 change .
True yams ( Dioscorea rotundata ) are from West Africa and the full term " yam " is the English version of theWest African term " nyami " stand for " to eat . " Typically , yam have a livid , starchy and dry flesh and barque - similar skin . Theflavor is neutral — not angelical — and is standardized to a yuca or russet potato . You might even discover a svelte earthy note . on-key yams are n’t verycommon in the U.S.
yam are ordinarily preparedsteamed or boiledand are often served with braised meat . In West Africa , and throughout the African diaspora , yams are sometimes boil and pounded into a starchy spread known asfufu .
Why the Name Confusion?
Remember those Solanum tuberosum developed by the Louisiana grower in the ' 30 ? His name wasJulian Millerand his murphy were a fresh motley of perfumed potatoes ( Ipomoea batatas ) . They were gentle with orange flesh and reddish peel and a scrumptiously sweet taste . These were n’t the first scented potatoes in North America by a long shot , but they were some of thefirst produce commercially .
Miller and other Southern growers needed a way to distinguish these new soft mellifluous potatoes from the unshakable varieties already in production . So they call them yam and well , the name stick . Today to help minimize the disarray , the U.S. Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) requireslabels with the word " yam"also admit the Son " sweet Solanum tuberosum " because almost all " yam plant " in the U.S. are sweet white potato .
