While often confused with the sweet potato in North American grocery stores, the is a distinct, versatile tuber with a deep history rooted in West African and Asian cultures. Belonging to the genus Dioscorea , yams are monocots more closely related to lilies and grasses than to common potatoes. Botanical and Physical Identity
They feature a rough, scaly, bark-like skin that can range from dark brown to light pink. While often confused with the sweet potato in
The interior flesh is typically white, though some varieties are yellow, purple, or pink. Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, and Yams: What's the Difference? the is a distinct
True yams can grow to massive sizes, sometimes reaching 5 feet in length and weighing over 100 pounds. though some varieties are yellow
Yams are thick tubers that grow on climbing vines.