What’s the difference between yams and sweet potatoes?
What’s the difference between yams and sweet potatoes?
Boss and former coworker got into a very amusing argument over this and it got me curious.
The name "yam" is used for a few different root vegetables.
The word is from West Africa and refers originally to Dioscorea yams, which are found in many parts of the world — having been independently domesticated in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The word "yam" is related to the Fulani word for "to eat", and was introduced into European languages by way of Portuguese colonizers.
But in the US, "yam" almost always refers to a variety of sweet-potato (Ipomoea genus), which is more closely related to a morning-glory flower than to either Dioscorea or a true potato (which is a Solanum nightshade).
Both sweet-potatoes and potatoes are native to the Americas. Sweet-potatoes probably were grown first in the Yucatán or in eastern South America, while true potatoes are from Peru and western South America.
Meanwhile in New Zealand, a "yam" is oca, an Oxalis species — close relatives of sourgrass and redwood sorrel. And in Malaysia, "yam" is taro root!
161This guy knows his potatoes.
47Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, stick ‘em in a stew.
18I'm rather impressed.
7For real! I’m impressed.
6
The word “yam” is related to the Fulani word for “to eat"
The etymology is a bit messy. It might be from Fula, but it's probably from Wolof ⟨ñàmbi⟩. Nowadays the Wolof word means yucca, but given that yucca is from the Americas, odds are that it was originally used for any edible root; or potentially another local root.
Either way (from Fula or Wolof), the word ended in Portuguese as ⟨inhame⟩ [iɲɐ̃.me]. Nowadays it refers to taro, but before that English borrowed ⟨inhame⟩ as ⟨yam⟩.
22I see. So it's a little bit like how in the U.S. pickles refers to pickled cucumbers, but in other places pickles can refer to other pickled foods. Yams are to sweet potatoes what pickles are to pickled cucumbers.
9Mmmmm, oca. Also in New Zealand.... kūmara.
3Neat, so yams in the US refer to a sweet potato? Slightly related, but can you also explain the difference between Ube and Taro? I've had this conversation with my friends as well.
2Yeah, if you go to a general US grocery store and see something described as a "yam" it's going to be a sweet-potato, usually a larger or starchier variety.
Ube is a Dioscorea yam native to Asia. It's closely related to the African yam. Most of this family of plants are big terrestrial vines that can live in somewhat dry places.
Taro, or kalo in Hawaiian, is from a different family of plants. It's related to the peace lily. Most of this family of plants live in aquatic or marshy places.
4
Thats super interesting, great write up!
1
yams and sweet potatoes are not the same. Yams have rough, dark brown skin that is often compared to tree bark, and their flesh is dry and starchy like a regular potato. Sweet potatoes have smooth reddish skin, softer flesh (when cooked), and a sweet flavor.
8It seems so obvious yet there is still so much confusion in the US
2
Our cans of sweet potatoes have an alternate label on the back that says yams, so apparently not much. (This is in the USA)
7You have sweet potato's in cans? That sounds awful.are they pre-cooked? I don't understand why?
6They're primarily used in as an ingredient. Often they are suspended in a sweet syrup and are thoroughly mashed to make a pie filling, it's actually not bad.
3- 1
yeah it says they're yams, but they have no relation to yams at all
3
Is that the reason the other guy is now a former coworker?
4She is going through some rough shit and couldn’t work here anymore, but her and boss have been friends for years.
1
Sweet potatoes makes your fart smell.
Yams do not.
Source: my (unfortunate) experience in forbidden lands
3My 2008 beater is great because it has no smart shit it in at all. I wouldn't buy a newer car unless it had a standard enough dash that I can replace whatever dumbass restricted smart app shit system it comes with.
-2c/lostlemmings?
8