Yams are imported into the USA and Canada from the Caribbean or Latin America. Sweet potatoes are root vegetables that are native to the USA. They have delicate skin and a sweet tasting moist texture. Depending on the variety, sweet potato flesh can vary from white to orange and even purple.
What are yams in the USA?
In America, yams are actually a type of sweet potato. Gingersnap cookies and marshmallows make this dish a real treat.
Are American yams sweet potatoes?
Are Yams and Sweet Potatoes the Same? No, 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.
Where are yams sold?
A true yam won't be found in your typical grocery store. Yams are grown in Africa and the Caribbean, so they are usually imported to the United States. They're most commonly sold in specialty shops, like African grocery stores.
Why do Americans call them yams?
Americans have been calling the orange-fleshed variety of sweet potatoes "yams" since colonial times when Africans saw familiarities in them to the tuberous variety. The USDA decided to label them as "yams" to differentiate the two varieties.
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