A Yam is a Yam

Yams! Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
I always thought the potato-like vegetable with bright orange flesh could be referred to as either a yam or a sweet potato. Although they are both tubers, they are different plants.

If you live in the United States, you're probably eating sweet potatoes, despite the labels at the grocery store.

Yams are rarely grown in the United States and are not readily available. Yams can grow to the size of a small child, according to one of my favorite vegetarian cookbooks. Really!

The tubers are usually sold cut into manageable chunks. If you want to dine on a real yam, go to a Latino market and search for "name". It will likely be sold by the pound in shrink-wrapped packages to preserve the vegetable's moisture.

So, have you eaten real yams? I don't think I have!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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18 comments:

  1. A Girl and Her eBooksApril 28, 2012 at 4:53 AM

    Nope. I haven't.

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  2. JenApril 28, 2012 at 9:48 AM

    Wow those are huge, sweet potatoes are what they sell in the stores! I've NEVER seen yams there!

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    1. Whole Foods LivingApril 28, 2012 at 2:47 PM

      Crazyy little fact, isn't it? True yams are HUGE! ~Angela

      Delete
  3. MarthaApril 28, 2012 at 10:40 AM

    Well I guess I haven't - that photo is amazing!! Have a great weekend :)

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  4. Tracy MooreApril 28, 2012 at 11:06 AM

    I don't think that I have either Angela! I had no idea that a real yam was so much different than a sweet potato. Next time I go to the grocery store, I think I might tear down all the yam signs lol. Going to have to seek out some real ones and give them a try. Cool post.

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    1. Whole Foods LivingApril 28, 2012 at 2:48 PM

      Hi Tracy, Thanks for stopping by! I'm glad I did a little research on this one! Fun facts! ~Angela

      Delete
  5. JoyApril 28, 2012 at 11:55 AM

    That picture is awesome!

    A note about yesterday's post: I believe Guar gum can be substituted for Xanthan gum and it's a lot cheaper. Also, Eve Berman has a cookbook called, "Culinary Potions" that has many gluten-free recipes.

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    Replies
    1. Whole Foods LivingApril 28, 2012 at 2:49 PM

      HI Joy! Thanks for the tips and cookbook suggestion. I'll have to check those out! I haven't baked with guar gum either, but I do see it listed in recipes too. Such a learning curve with GF baking! ~Angela

      Delete
  6. AnonymousApril 28, 2012 at 4:16 PM

    I guess I've never eaten a yam. Thanks for sharing the picture.

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  7. Jolie du PreApril 28, 2012 at 4:56 PM

    My husband and I have been to Mexico at least 10 times. I'm sure we have at some point.

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  8. Ricardo MiñanaApril 28, 2012 at 8:09 PM

    have an interesting space, a great pleasure to read you.
    if you like the poetry I invite you to my space.
    happy day.
    a greeting.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sonia LalApril 28, 2012 at 9:29 PM

    until now I thought yams and sweet potatoes were the same thing. lol

    also, flash fiction is easier to write than you might think.

    ReplyDelete
  10. JohnApril 29, 2012 at 8:23 AM

    Ooh, I had no idea! I probably haven't either!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Jennifer @ Solo Travel GirlApril 30, 2012 at 10:18 PM

    Yum, yams! That photo is incredible!

    ReplyDelete

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