Yams and the Sweet Potato

A Yam is not a Sweet Potato



After seeing Sweet Potatoes erroneously labled as Yams in super markets, magazines, recipes and in countless conversations, I figured it would not be overkill to add yet another artical to the world on why Yams and different from Sweet Potatoes.

yam spacer spacer sweetpotato
yam on the left and sweet potato to the right

Turnip and Rutabaga Differences:

  • Yam-- part of the Dioscoreaceae family
  • Sweet potato-- part of the Convolvulaceae family
  • Yam-- tough skin that is difficult to peel
  • Sweet Potato-- relatively easy to peel
  • Yam--most are native to Africa and Asia
  • Sweet Potato-- native to South America

Here are a few images of Sweet Potatoes
First row are examples of skin and bottom row with examples of flesh

sweet potato skin purple sweet potato skin orange sweet potato skin red sweet potato skin brown sweet potato skin white
sweet potato flesh white sweet potato flesh purple sweet potato flesh yellow sweet potato flesh red sweet potato flesh orange

Here are a few images of Yams
First Row are examples of skin and the bottown row has examples of flesh

Yam Skin Example Yam Skin Example Yam Skin Example Yam Skin Example
Yam flesh Example, purple Yam flesh Example, yellow Yam flesh Example, Yam flesh Example,