Yams

Yams are starchy tubers from a vine in the family Dioscoraceae that are similar to sweet potatoes but unrelated to them. (Sweet potatoes come from a vine in the Convolvulaceae, the same family as morning glories). They are a staple of many Southeast Asian and African cuisines, and are widely used in India.

Fast Facts

1. 200 different varieties
2. Rich in Vitamin B6
3. Native to Africa and Asia
4. Cultivated for roughly 10,000 years
5. Grow hanging from vines, not in the ground

Yam vs Sweet Potato

Yams are rare enough in U.S. markets that most Americans have never seen one, despite the mislabeled cans and piles of orangey tubers at the grocery store. On the other hand, if every sweet potato were replaced with a yam, the most noticeable difference would be their size -- up to 150 pounds apiece. Purple- and white-fleshed species are cultivated that would draw more attention.

Culinary Use

When yams appear in ethnic or specialty grocers in the U.S., they can be treated like sweet potatoes. Yam powder, available at African and Caribbean groceries, is made into a paste analogous to mashed potatoes.

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