Yams vs. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potato Primer

Yams are often called sweet potatoes and vice versa. But true yams aren’t botanically related to sweet potatoes, although they do look similar. Popular in Africa and Latin America, yams are starchier, not as sweet, and hard to find in the U.S. Sweet potatoes, on the other hand, can be lumped into two general classes: Those with firm, dry flesh when cooked, or ones with soft, moist flesh.