Yes and no. In the southern United States, some sweet potatoes are advertised as yams; for example, Louisiana Yams. However, these are all sweet potatoes with the scientific name Ipomoea batatas. The true yam which is native to tropical regions, is an unrelated plant. Collectively these yams are members of the Dioscorea spp. The true yam is also called a Chinese yam or Chinese potato. In some regions of the world a few of the species of the true yams are considered edible. True yams are typically not grown as food crops in the continental United States.
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Is there a difference between sweet potatoes and yams?
Last Updated: January 05, 2012
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