What is the difference between a sweet potato and a yam?

Answer

Sweet potatoes and yams are constantly confused for one another, but the truth is what you’ve been calling a yam is most likely a sweet potato. The sweet, orange-colored root vegetable that is often thought of as a yam in the United States is actually a sweet potato. A true yam is a starchy edible tuber that is generally imported from the Caribbean. It differs greatly from the sweet potato in taste, texture, and appearance.