The name “yam” is used for a few different root vegetables.
The word is from West Africa and refers originally to Dioscorea yams, which are found in many parts of the world — having been independently domesticated in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The word “yam” is related to the Fulani word for “to eat”, and was introduced into European languages by way of Portuguese colonizers.
But in the US, “yam” almost always refers to a variety of sweet-potato (Ipomoea genus), which is more closely related to a morning-glory flower than to either Dioscorea or a true potato (which is a Solanum nightshade).
Both sweet-potatoes and potatoes are native to the Americas. Sweet-potatoes probably were grown first in the Yucatán or in eastern South America, while true potatoes are from Peru and western South America.
Meanwhile in New Zealand, a “yam” is oca, an Oxalis species — close relatives of sourgrass and redwood sorrel. And in Malaysia, “yam” is taro root!
The word “yam” is related to the Fulani word for “to eat"
The etymology is a bit messy. It might be from Fula, but it’s probably from Wolof ⟨ñàmbi⟩. Nowadays the Wolof word means yucca, but given that yucca is from the Americas, odds are that it was originally used for any edible root; or potentially another local root.
Either way (from Fula or Wolof), the word ended in Portuguese as ⟨inhame⟩ [iɲɐ̃.me]. Nowadays it refers to taro, but before that English borrowed ⟨inhame⟩ as ⟨yam⟩.
Neat, so yams in the US refer to a sweet potato? Slightly related, but can you also explain the difference between Ube and Taro? I’ve had this conversation with my friends as well.
Yeah, if you go to a general US grocery store and see something described as a “yam” it’s going to be a sweet-potato, usually a larger or starchier variety.
Ube is a Dioscorea yam native to Asia. It’s closely related to the African yam. Most of this family of plants are big terrestrial vines that can live in somewhat dry places.
Taro, or kalo in Hawaiian, is from a different family of plants. It’s related to the peace lily. Most of this family of plants live in aquatic or marshy places.
Looking them up, it sounds like they’re the same species as American sweet-potato, which is one more bit of evidence for early contact between Polynesians and South America.
I see. So it’s a little bit like how in the U.S. pickles refers to pickled cucumbers, but in other places pickles can refer to other pickled foods. Yams are to sweet potatoes what pickles are to pickled cucumbers.
Another fun layer I’ve encountered recently has been “pickles” referring to a specific variety of (non-pickled) cucumbers that are usually used for pickling. So pickles are pickled pickles.
yams and sweet potatoes are not the same. Yams have rough, dark brown skin that is often compared to tree bark, and their flesh is dry and starchy like a regular potato. Sweet potatoes have smooth reddish skin, softer flesh (when cooked), and a sweet flavor.
They’re primarily used in as an ingredient. Often they are suspended in a sweet syrup and are thoroughly mashed to make a pie filling, it’s actually not bad.
They’re quicker for making sweet potato pie since they’re already cooked. You add plenty of other ingredients to the filling so there’s less difference in the final product between canned and fresh
My 2008 beater is great because it has no smart shit it in at all. I wouldn’t buy a newer car unless it had a standard enough dash that I can replace whatever dumbass restricted smart app shit system it comes with.
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Sweet potatoes makes your fart smell.
Yams do not.
Source: my (unfortunate) experience in forbidden lands
The name “yam” is used for a few different root vegetables.
The word is from West Africa and refers originally to Dioscorea yams, which are found in many parts of the world — having been independently domesticated in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The word “yam” is related to the Fulani word for “to eat”, and was introduced into European languages by way of Portuguese colonizers.
But in the US, “yam” almost always refers to a variety of sweet-potato (Ipomoea genus), which is more closely related to a morning-glory flower than to either Dioscorea or a true potato (which is a Solanum nightshade).
Both sweet-potatoes and potatoes are native to the Americas. Sweet-potatoes probably were grown first in the Yucatán or in eastern South America, while true potatoes are from Peru and western South America.
Meanwhile in New Zealand, a “yam” is oca, an Oxalis species — close relatives of sourgrass and redwood sorrel. And in Malaysia, “yam” is taro root!
The etymology is a bit messy. It might be from Fula, but it’s probably from Wolof ⟨ñàmbi⟩. Nowadays the Wolof word means yucca, but given that yucca is from the Americas, odds are that it was originally used for any edible root; or potentially another local root.
Either way (from Fula or Wolof), the word ended in Portuguese as ⟨inhame⟩ [iɲɐ̃.me]. Nowadays it refers to taro, but before that English borrowed ⟨inhame⟩ as ⟨yam⟩.
This guy knows his potatoes.
For real! I’m impressed.
The only question is…Idaho or PEI?
Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, stick ‘em in a stew.
Neat, so yams in the US refer to a sweet potato? Slightly related, but can you also explain the difference between Ube and Taro? I’ve had this conversation with my friends as well.
Yeah, if you go to a general US grocery store and see something described as a “yam” it’s going to be a sweet-potato, usually a larger or starchier variety.
Ube is a Dioscorea yam native to Asia. It’s closely related to the African yam. Most of this family of plants are big terrestrial vines that can live in somewhat dry places.
Taro, or kalo in Hawaiian, is from a different family of plants. It’s related to the peace lily. Most of this family of plants live in aquatic or marshy places.
Mmmmm, oca. Also in New Zealand… kūmara.
Thats super interesting, great write up!
And now do kūmara! They sometimes get called sweet potatoes in New Zealand
Looking them up, it sounds like they’re the same species as American sweet-potato, which is one more bit of evidence for early contact between Polynesians and South America.
I see. So it’s a little bit like how in the U.S. pickles refers to pickled cucumbers, but in other places pickles can refer to other pickled foods. Yams are to sweet potatoes what pickles are to pickled cucumbers.
Another fun layer I’ve encountered recently has been “pickles” referring to a specific variety of (non-pickled) cucumbers that are usually used for pickling. So pickles are pickled pickles.
That’s totally pickled.
Where has that video disappeared?
source
It seems so obvious yet there is still so much confusion in the US
Is that the reason the other guy is now a former coworker?
She is going through some rough shit and couldn’t work here anymore, but her and boss have been friends for years.
Our cans of sweet potatoes have an alternate label on the back that says yams, so apparently not much. (This is in the USA)
yeah it says they’re yams, but they have no relation to yams at all
You have sweet potato’s in cans? That sounds awful.are they pre-cooked? I don’t understand why?
USA has thanksgiving in a can, Christmas dinner in a can, even SPAM in a can.
They’re primarily used in as an ingredient. Often they are suspended in a sweet syrup and are thoroughly mashed to make a pie filling, it’s actually not bad.
They’re quicker for making sweet potato pie since they’re already cooked. You add plenty of other ingredients to the filling so there’s less difference in the final product between canned and fresh
My 2008 beater is great because it has no smart shit it in at all. I wouldn’t buy a newer car unless it had a standard enough dash that I can replace whatever dumbass restricted smart app shit system it comes with.