What is a Japanese yam called?
The Japanese yam, is also commonly known as mountain yam, satsuma imo and kotobuki, is a sweet yam variety that is only distantly related to the potato. It is a root vegetable and a member of the Dioscoreaceae family, which houses predominantly perennial herbaceous vines.
Are Japanese sweet potatoes different than regular sweet potatoes?
Because they're a little drier and starchier than other varieties, Japanese sweet potatoes have a distinct creaminess and a fluffier, lighter texture, a little more like a regular baking potato than a standard orange sweet potato. They also have a particularly sweet yet, subtle flavor compared to many other varieties.
Are Japanese yams and Japanese sweet potatoes the same thing?
The Japanese Sweet, which may also be referred to as a Japanese yam, an Oriental, Kotobuki, Satsuma Imo, or Satsumaimo, is a variety of potato that is common in Japan and is now grown in the U.S. as well as many other regions of the world.
What are white Japanese sweet potatoes called?
satsumaimoAbout Japanese White Sweet Potato Also known as satsumaimo, Japanese white sweet potato has purple-red skin with creamy white flesh that turns golden after cooking. Used in both sweet and savory dishes, Japanese white sweet potatoes are sweeter than regular sweet potatoes.
Is Japanese sweet potato healthier than regular sweet potato?
The purple tuber, known as satsuma-imo, is similar to a regular sweet potato, high in antioxidants and healthier than a white potato. The satsuma-imo trumps the Idaho white with fewer carbs (24 grams vs. 37 grams) and calories (113 vs. 170).
What kind of sweet potatoes do Okinawans eat?
SWEET POTATOES: Okinawan imo is a supercharged purple sweet potato, a cousin of the yellow-orange sweet varieties. Despite its sweet, satisfying taste, the imo does not spike blood sugar as much as a regular white potato. The leaves are eaten as greens in miso soup.
Are Murasaki potatoes the same as Japanese sweet potatoes?
Murasaki Sweet Potato vs. For one, Murasaki sweet potatoes are much drier, with a flesh that more resembles a regular potato than a sweet potato when cooked. In terms of flavor, Murasaki sweet potatoes have a more earthy, nutty sweetness rather than the sugary-sweet flavor of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes.
Can you substitute Japanese yams for sweet potatoes?
The short answer is no, you can't always substitute yams for sweet potatoes. That's because yams and sweet potatoes are different vegetables with totally different origins, even though they often get lumped together in the same category in the United States.
Can you eat skin of Japanese sweet potato?
Sweet potato skins are safe to eat and can be easily added to most recipes. They're rich in fiber, other nutrients, and antioxidants that can help support a healthy gut, increase feelings of fullness, and prevent chronic disease. If you're looking to get the most nutrition out of your sweet potato, keep the peel on.
What is the best tasting sweet potato?
Beauregard Sweet Potatoes These potatoes have dark reddish-purple skin and deep orange flesh and tend to be quite large. They are the sweetest orange sweet potato on this list and are plenty juicy, making them a great all-purpose sweet potato.
Are Hannah sweet potatoes the same as Japanese sweet potatoes?
Their skin color is not an indication of the flesh color. For example, the Okinawa purple sweet potato variety from Japan has beige skin and dark purple flesh. The popular Hannah batata (sweet potato) has light tan skin and yellow flesh.
Are Murasaki sweet potatoes healthy?
Nutritional Value Murasaki sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A, and a good source of potassium, dietary fiber, and vitamin C. They also contain iron, calcium, protein, and beneficial amino acids.
Which type of sweet potato is healthier?
Sweet potatoes with orange flesh are richest in beta-carotene. Sweet potatoes with purple flesh are richer in anthocyanins. Beta-carotene and anthocyanins are naturally occurring plant “phyto” chemicals that give vegetables their bright colors.
Are Japanese yams poisonous?
Some varieties of yams, namely the bitter ones, can be toxic if eaten raw. Japanese varieties of yams such as Yamaimo are an exception.
What is the best sweet potato to eat?
For our Best Baked Sweet Potatoes, we recommend passing on tan- or purple-skinned sweet potatoes (so-called dry varieties) and sticking with red or orange, which are known as “moist” varieties. These contain more of the enzyme amylase, which breaks down starches into sugars.
What is the sweetest sweet potato variety?
Beauregard Sweet PotatoesBeauregard Sweet Potatoes These potatoes have dark reddish-purple skin and deep orange flesh and tend to be quite large. They are the sweetest orange sweet potato on this list and are plenty juicy, making them a great all-purpose sweet potato.
The Versatility of Japanese Sweet Potatoes (Satsumaino)
From roasting, steaming, simmering, deep-frying to baking, there are endless ways to enjoy Japanese sweet potatoes. You may have tried them as tempura, where they are lightly coated with batter and deep-fried into perfection.
Storage
They will keep up to a month when stored in a cool, dry, and dark place. I usually put them in a basket under the pantry shelf.
Health Benefits of Japanese Sweet Potatoes
It’s a known knowledge that all sweet potatoes are good for you. The same goes for Japanese sweet potatoes. High in carbohydrates and dietary fiber, they provide a good source of energy. Which is why they are particularly enjoyed by farmers and hard labor workers in Japan.
Namiko Chen
I'm Nami, a Japanese home cook based in San Francisco. Have fun exploring the 800+ classic & modern Japanese recipes I share with step-by-step photos and How-To YouTube videos.
About Oriental Sweet Potatoes
Oriental sweet potatoes are more commonly known as Satsuma-imo or Japanese sweet potatoes. They are botanically classified as Ipomoea batatas (from morning glory family), which includes many different varieties of sweet potatoes grown in Japan.
Yams vs. Japanese Sweet Potatoes
Japanese sweet potatoes, also called a Japanese yam, are quite similar to American yams but possess a sweeter taste and softer flesh with a lighter yellow coloring. However, all varieties of sweet potatoes belong to the morning glory family, while yams are tubers related to lilies native to Africa and Asia, says Harvard T.H.
Japanese Sweet Potato Calories
Oriental, or Japanese, sweet potatoes provide 264 calories per 200 grams, which is the equivalent of one medium potato. Of the total calories in a sweet potato, 9.6 calories comes from protein, which is 2.4 grams. You need protein to build tissue including bones, muscles and skin.
Carbs in Sweet Potato for Energy
About 95 percent of the calories in Japanese sweet potatoes come primarily from healthy complex carbohydrates. Carbs are important for the production of energy needed for metabolic and physical processes. Carbs help fuel your brain, nervous system, cells and heart.
Beneficial Fiber Content
One Japanese sweet potato offers 4.6 grams of dietary fiber, which is the front-runner for keeping your digestive system healthy. Fiber is the part of food your body cannot digest.
High Content of Healthy Vitamins
Japanese sweet potatoes contain most of the B vitamins that your body needs for energy production and to maintain the proper functioning of your brain and nervous system. Each 200-gram medium potato contains the following B vitamins:
Good Source of Essential Minerals
Japanese sweet potatoes are rich in healthy minerals, especially potassium, copper and manganese. The amounts, per potato, are as follows:
Current Facts
Japanese sweet potatoes, botanically classified as Ipomoea batatas, are a dry-fleshed root that grows on sprawling vines and are members of the Convolvulaceae or morning glory family.
Applications
Japanese sweet potatoes are best suited for cooked applications such as roasting, baking, boiling, stir-frying, and steaming. The roots are most commonly consumed with the skin on and are roasted or baked whole to be served by themselves or topped with vegetables and sauces.
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Types of Sweet Potatoes With Pictures and Names
Let’s look at some of the many types of sweet potato, starting with some of the most popular and widely consumed varieties.
Garnet Sweet Potato
Garnet sweet potatoes are a popular variety due to their mildly sweet taste and moist texture. Garnets are oblong tubers that have dark-orange to red skin with deep orange-colored flesh. Sometimes, this sweet potato cultivar is sold as ‘garnet yams’ in the U.S.
Jewel Sweet Potato
Very similar in appearance to garnets, Jewel sweet potatoes also have deep orange, sweet-tasting flesh. One of the slight differences between jewels and garnets is that jewel sweet potatoes have copper colored skin, slightly lighter than garnets.
Hannah Sweet Potato
Sometimes called the Yellow Hannah or Sweet Hannah, this variety of sweet potato has lightly colored tan skin. Peeling off the skin reveals creamy white-colored flesh that has a mildly sweet flavor. When cooked, Hannah sweet potatoes have a light yellow color.
Beauregard Sweet Potato
One of the most popular varieties of sweet potatoes that is grown in the US is the Beauregard variety. These plump tuberous vegetables have rose to red-colored skin with succulent orange flesh. The reason Beauregards are so popular is due to their very sweet taste and vibrant orange color.
Covington Sweet Potato
Another of the most popular varieties of sweet potato is the delicious Covington cultivar. This versatile starchy root vegetable is identified by its rose-colored skin and intense orange flesh. The moist orange flesh is perfect for baking and using in desserts.
Jersey Sweet Potato
Looking at pictures of the Jersey sweet potato you can see that it is similar in color to regular potatoes. They have light tan to creamy-colored skins with white flesh. Although Jerseys are sweeter than regular potatoes, they aren’t as sweet as many of the orange varieties of sweet potatoes.
Taste
The taste is very light and simple. You may feel a subtle potato-like flavor. Japanese yam is much more sticky, and has a little sweeter taste than Chinese yam. The best feature of both is stickiness. When cut and used, a crispy daikon-like texture is added.
How To Use
Japanese yam can be eaten raw or over the fire. Here are some popular ways of eating it in Japan.
Nutrition Facts
Although the calories of Japanese yam differ depending on the types, it’s usually about 65 to 123kcal per 100g of edible portion. Because it is an ingredient that was eaten as a staple food in the olden days, it can be said that it has higher calories than vegetables.
Taste
It’s characterized by a very strong sweetness. Sweet potatoes that have been slowly cooked has a more sticky texture than potatoes.
How To Use
Unlike Japanese yam and Chinese yam, please note that you cannot eat sweet potatoes raw. Here are some popular ways of eating sweet potatoes in Japan.
Ishi-yakiimo
When it comes to sweet potatoes, Japanese people think of ishi-yakiimo. It is a sweet potato roasted in hot pebbles. Honey comes out from the slowly roasted sweet potatoes, and it’s unbelievably delicious!
Nutrition Facts
The calories of sweet potatoes is about 140kcal per 100g of edible portion.
Description
The plant is a herbaceous perennial vine, bearing alternate heart-shaped or palmately lobed leaves and medium-sized sympetalous flowers. The stems are usually crawling on the ground and form adventitious roots at the nodes. The leaves are screwed along the stems. The leaf stalk is 5 to 20 inches long.
Naming
Although the soft, orange sweet potato is often called a " yam " in parts of North America, the sweet potato is very distinct from the botanical yam ( Dioscorea ), which has a cosmopolitan distribution, and belongs to the monocot family Dioscoreaceae.
History
The origin and domestication of sweet potato occurred in either Central or South America. In Central America, domesticated sweet potatoes were present at least 5,000 years ago, with the origin of I. batatas possibly between the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico and the mouth of the Orinoco River in Venezuela.
Transgenicity
The genome of cultivated sweet potatoes contains sequences of DNA from Agrobacterium (now reclassified as Rhizobium ), with genes actively expressed by the plants. The T-DNA transgenes were not observed in closely related wild relatives of the sweet potato.
Cultivation
The plant does not tolerate frost. It grows best at an average temperature of 24 °C (75 °F), with abundant sunshine and warm nights. Annual rainfalls of 750–1,000 mm (30–39 in) are considered most suitable, with a minimum of 500 mm (20 in) in the growing season.
Production
In 2019, global production of sweet potatoes was 92 million tonnes, led by China with 56% of the world total (table). Secondary producers were Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania.
Nutrient content
The table below presents the relative performance of sweet potato (in column) to other staple foods on a dry weight basis to account for their different water contents. While sweet potato provides less edible energy and protein per unit weight than cereals, it has higher nutrient density than cereals.
