So, what IS the difference between a yam and a sweet potato??

[bac511]

And is it potato or potatoe? ;)

[RebelOne]

1. No difference. And it is potato.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

2. There's a difference?

:D :D

[emmajane67]

3. Maybe not American sweet potato

but the sweet potato I know is called kumara and looks like a red potato and is yellow inside and sweet. Quite a different taste to a yam. If you're ever in NZ try one.

[Gormy Cuss]

4. No difference in the U.S.

although true yams are a different plant. What Americans usually call yams are orange fleshed sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are close cousins of the flowering vine known as a Morning Glory.

[mcscajun]

5. We sometimes call sweet potatoes "yams" but they are NOT Yams.

Yams are a completely different vegetable, altogether.

This site will give you chapter and verse, and more info than you probably need or want. :)

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-23-a.html

[Greyhound]

6. The local produce manager says there is a difference and the yam

is sweeter than the sweet potato.