Updated 29 July 2026 · Written by Daniel Wright
Despite the labels, most yams sold in US supermarkets are really sweet potatoes. True yams are a starchy, dry tuber with rough, bark-like skin, grown mainly in Africa and Asia. Sweet potatoes are sweeter and moister, especially the orange kind, and are much more common in Western cooking.
Most US store yams are actually sweet potatoes. True yams are dry, starchy, rough-skinned tubers from Africa and Asia.
Why the Confusion
In the United States, orange sweet potatoes were long marketed as yams to distinguish them from paler varieties, and the name stuck. So the canned yams and Thanksgiving yams you see are almost always sweet potatoes. Real yams are rarely sold in ordinary supermarkets.
How They Actually Differ
True yams have rough, scaly, bark-like skin, white or purple starchy flesh, and a drier, less sweet taste. Sweet potatoes have smooth skin, moist flesh in orange, white or purple, and a sweeter flavor. Sweet potatoes are also higher in vitamin A. A sharp chef knife makes cutting these dense tubers safer.
Sweet Potato vs True Yam
| Sweet potato | True yam | |
|---|---|---|
| Skin | Smooth | Rough, bark-like |
| Flesh | Moist, sweet | Dry, starchy |
| Common in US | Yes | Rare |
| Vitamin A | High | Low |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the yams in the store real yams?
Usually not. In US stores, most produce labeled yams are actually orange sweet potatoes. True yams are found mainly in international markets.
Which is healthier, sweet potato or yam?
Sweet potatoes are higher in vitamin A and beta-carotene, while yams are more starchy. For most Western diets, sweet potatoes offer more of those nutrients.
