What’s the difference between yams and sweet potatoes?
This has always been so confusing, partially because I trust the signs at supermarkets. Lesson 1, don’t do that. When you see a sign for “yam” in an American supermarket, it’s likely wrong. Often, what we call “yams” in the US, is an orange colored variety of sweet potato. So, it’s not a yam, got that? This reminds me of when my little cousin used to run around saying “I am what I am but I am not a yam.” Say that three times fast…hehe
So, then I went around thinking, everything we see here is a sweet potato. The problem is that I frequent Asian supermarkets, and yup, they actually have real yams there. Now, I get more confused.
So I was about to do a bunch of research to finally learn the difference once and for all (and write up a post for y’all), but why do that when I just found another blog that already wrote it up and did a damn good job of it.
For the difference between yams and sweet potatoes, check out Zoe Bakes here.
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Very interesting–I’m dying to try the purple yam!
I’ve been annoyed by the “yam” misnomer for quite awhile–thanks for giving a voice to my confusion/frustration.
are yams sweet potatoes then? These are used in quite a few Indian cuisines like Gujarati and Bengali ones. I think its used in the Southern part of the US. I remember references in books such as Gone With the Wind
Asianmommy, purple yam is one of my favorites!
EMC, I got yo’ back.
Knife, yams are not sweet potatoes, not even related. Gotta read that post by Zoe Bakes!
The misidentification of sweet potato as yam is a pet peeve of ours as well. And the confusion is made worse by marketing, check out this: http://www.brucesyamsbrand.com/what-are-yams.html
Great link to Zoe’s page, thanks!
Wow K&S;, that site (Bruce's Yams) is terrible! Ugh! That makes me so angry.