Although both yams and sweet potatoes are classified as root vegetables, they are not interchangeable in any way.
In many regions of Africa, Asia, Central America and South America, yams serve as a primary source of nutrition. They are often larger than sweet potatoes have a higher starch content and have a skin that is thick, rough and a dark brown colour.
They differ from sweet potatoes in that their flesh might be white, purple or reddish in colour and it is drier and less sweet. Yams on the other hand, are seen in American supermarkets much less frequently than sweet potatoes.
On the other hand, supermarkets across the United States have sweet potatoes which are native to South and Central America but can also be found in those regions. They have flesh that can be white, yellow orange or purple in colour and their skin is smooth and thin and has a light brown colour. In addition to being sweeter and more moist than yams, they have a texture that is similar to that of cream.
It is a common misconception that “yams” refer to sweet potatoes in the United States however this is not the case. Yams are actually a misnomer for sweet potatoes. The United States Department of Agriculture mandates that any product label that includes the word “yam” must also include the words “sweet potato”.
To summarise, yams and sweet potatoes are not the same item as evidenced by their distinct differences in flavour consistency and physical appearance.
