Sweet potatoes on the other hand, have a lighter skin, with tapered ends, and a light yellow to deep orange flesh. There are also purple sweet potatoes and other varieties. You can find some that are white, yellow, purple, red, brown. The sweet potato is from the Convolvulaceae family; it is a dicot that is related to flowering morning glory plants. “They often mistake Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes and Okinawan sweet potatoes for ube because of the purple flesh. Purple sweet potatoes are a type that has a light purple skin and a deep purple flesh. Purple sweet potato, also called ube (and pronounced ‘oo-bae’) is popular in the Philippines and used mainly in desserts. Types of Sweet Potatoes. In North America there are mainly two varieties of sweet potatoes; a soft, copper skinned potato with a dark orange flesh and a firm , golden skinned potato with a lighter flesh. Updated December 30, 2019. At the grocer, the copper skinned sweet potato is labeled as a yam, but is it really a yam? Purple yams are similar to sweet potatoes and are known by several names, including purple yam, greater yam, winged yam, water yam, white yam, purple or white yam, guyana arrowroot, ten-month yam.However exact place of origin is unknown it is believed that common yam comes from the … I have never heard of Okinawan Purple Sweet Potato, but I had Japanese Purple Sweet Potato before, which looks not at all similar to your picture. Purple yams, also known as ube, are nutritious root vegetables that may offer several health benefits. Sweet potatoes come in many different colors. Purple sweet potatoes have a creamy texture and delicate, sweeter taste than their orange-fleshed cousins. There is no doubt that purple sweet potatoes have gained popularity – just open the pages of Eating Well, Martha Stewart Living, The Washington Post and O, The Oprah Magazine.But not all varieties of purple sweet potatoes are created equal. Yam vs. sweet potato: Which one's healthier (and what's the difference)? Dioscorea alata commonly known as purple yam is actually a species of yam, a tuberous root vegetable. Yam vs. Sweetpotato: A true yam is a starchy edible root of the Dioscorea genus, and is generally imported to America from the Caribbean. I have never heard of Okinawan Purple Sweet Potato, but I had Japanese Purple Sweet Potato before, which looks not at all similar to your picture. And in fact, they’re not all purple. Here are 7 surprising health benefits of purple yam, including how it differs from taro root. Depending on the variety, sweetpotato flesh can vary from white to orange and even purple. The colour of their flesh varies from ivory to yellow to purple. While both are underground tuber vegetables, they are actually very different. That goes for the inside too, from yellow, white, orange, and purple. The starches we think of as “purple sweet potatoes” aren’t all sweet potatoes. BTW purple yams are much better than purple sweet potatoes. As a result, you won’t have to add as much butter, oil, or cream in order to enjoy them, says Bauer. Purple sweet potatoes have a creamy texture and delicate, sweeter taste than their orange-fleshed cousins. Sweet Potato Nutrition All varieties of sweet potatoes are a healthy source of complex carbohydrates which provide your body with energy needed … Like orange sweet potatoes, they are low in carbohydrates and fat and an excellent source of fiber and vitamins. All the varieties described below are technically sweet potatoes, though they’re often called yams. Incidentally, yams and sweet potatoes are different. “Shoppers may think they are looking for fresh ube, but oftentimes we find they really want a purple sweet potato. Some Cantonese merchant use taro and purple sweet potato mixture as an imposter of purple yam when making their food. The terms “sweet potato” and “yam” are often used interchangeably, causing a lot of confusion. Demystifying different types of purple-fleshed sweet potatoes, one tuber at a time! Generally a little harder to find than other types of sweet potatoes, purple sweet potatoes can be prepared in a number of different ways. Some Cantonese merchant use taro and purple sweet potato mixture as an imposter of purple yam when making their food. It’s most commonly used in ice cream, cake and doughnuts. Throughout Asia—from the Philippines to Japan to Taiwan—purple starches have been kitchen staples for centuries, featured in everything from … Additionally, purple sweet potatoes are packed with anthocyanins, which may have anti-inflammatory properties. The produce section of your local grocery store may be getting more colorful these days — red carrots, orange cauliflower, purple peppers, yellow tomatoes, and purple sweet potatoes. Roasting vegetables is … Have you ever eaten a purple sweet potato or purple yam? Is one healthier for you?