Types Of Sweet Potatoes
There are two general categories in which the majority of the hundreds of varieties of sweet potatoes fall: soft and firm.
Soft Sweet Potatoes
These tend to have orange skin with orange flesh or red/copper skin with orange flesh. These are great for baking and mashing! Varieties: Jewel, Garnet, and Covington.
Firm Sweet Potatoes
These tend to have one of three color patterns. Yellow skin with white flesh, purple skin with white flesh, or purple skin with purple flesh. These hold their shape well, making them great for soups or fries. Varieties: Hannah, Japanese, Purple, and O’Henry.
Sweet Potato Varieties
As we said, there are hundreds of different types of these tubers worldwide, and we will only touch on a fraction of them that are generally available in the USA either at your grocery store, farmer’s markets or international markets.
Amish Bush Sweet Potato
The Amish Bush sweet potato is believed to have originated among the Amish communities in the Eastern US, and are now grown largely in Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. They typically have a reddish-orange skin and a pale yellow to orange flesh, and are known for their compact, bushy growth habit, which makes them suitable for smaller garden spaces or containers if you want to grow them at home. They are moderately sweet compared to other varieties but are by most considered pleasantly sweet without being overly sugary. They are well-suited for roasting, baking, mashing, or making into fries. Their firm texture holds up well in soups and stews.
Beauregard Sweet Potato
The Beauregard is a fairly recent sweet potato variety that came out of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station in 1987, and is today one of the three most popular sweet potatoes in the USA. They are a large sweet potato with bright orange flesh said to be almost creamy. These classic sweet potatoes can be used in just about any sweet potato recipe. Try them in any of these 17 easy ways to cook with sweet potatoes.
Centennial Sweet Potato
The Centennial sweet potato is a heirloom variety that traces its origins to the southern US. It has been cultivated for decades, and is also a popular home gardeners choice. These spuds feature a reddish-brown to copper-colored skin and vibrant orange flesh. They are known for their relatively large size and cylindrical shape. This is a sweeter variety which has a smooth creamy texture when cooked. This makes them the ideal spud for mashing, pies, and casseroles.
Covington Sweet Potato
Developed by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Covington sweet potatoes were released in 2005 and are named after the county where they were first tested. This newcomer to the world of spuds is known for its smooth, copper-colored skin and deep orange flesh. They have a sweet flavor with a moist texture, but do not have an overly sugary taste. They are excellent for baking, roasting, mashing, and even making sweet potato fries or pies.
Creamsicle Sweet Potato
Creamsicle sweet potatoes are another relatively newer variety developed by researchers seeking to enhance the sweetness and flavor of traditional sweet potatoes. The name creamsicle is a nod to their vibrant orange color and their exceptionally sweet flavor reminiscent of the popular frozen dessert. They have a smooth texture and moist flesh. So what do you do with a sweet potato with a rich sugary taste? We suggest baking, pies, sweet potato cookies, cakes, dessert casseroles or a decadent healthy Sweet potato smoothie.
Hannah Sweet Potato
The Hannah isn’t as sweet as some other sweet potato varieties, but is a fantastic spud all the same. This is one of the most popular white sweet potatoes with a tan skin and the cream colored flesh when raw that cooks to a more yellow color. This is a starchy variety more similar to white potatoes in that regard than other sweet potatoes. The Hannah is a great option for Air fryer sweet potato fries or Baked sweet potato fries as starchy potatoes make the best fries.
Japanese Sweet Potato
Japanese sweet potatoes originated in China, but came to Japan through the Island of Okinawa in the early 17th Century. They have a red skin and yellow flesh differentiating them from most American sweet potato varieties. They are among the sweetest of varieties great in Thanksgiving dessert recipes though their yellow flesh doesn’t give the traditional bright orange Sweet potato casserole look. Some people worry about needing a specific recipe for yellow, white, or purple sweet potatoes. You really don’t. These tend to be firm starchy spuds, so they are particularly good as fries or wedges but try them in any of these 17 Easy sweet potato recipes.
Jersey Sweet Potato
Also known as the Jersey Royal, these spuds come from the Island of Jersey in the English Channel. It’s believed to have been first cultivated there in the late 18th century. They are still grown on the island, but have expanded out with cultivation across the UK and France. Jersey sweet potatoes have a creamy yellow flesh and a thin, tan skin. They’re typically smaller in size compared to other sweet potato varieties, with a slightly elongated shape. The flesh is tender and has a distinct, nutty flavor with a hint of sweetness. We would say they are of about average sweetness. This is a good choice for just about any recipe that calls for sweet potatoes except perhaps the sweetest of dessert recipes.
Jewel Sweet Potato
The Jewel sweet potato is a popular variety that was developed in Louisiana in the mid-20th century. They are grown across the southern states, and are known for their deep orange flesh and reddish-brown skin. They’re medium to large in size and have a moist, creamy texture when cooked. The flavor is notably sweet, with hints of caramel and honey. In fact they are one of the sweetest varieties of sweet potatoes available, which makes them ideal for desserts. Their natural sweetness pairs well with spices like cinnamon (perhaps Sunday morning Sweet potato cinnamon rolls), nutmeg, and ginger, enhancing both sweet and savory dishes. How about sweet potato cookies?
Korean Purple Sweet Potato
Also known as Korean Red sweet potatoes, originate from Korea. They have a dark purple skin and vibrant purple flesh, and are known for their sweet nutty flavor and moist texture. In Korea they are often used in desserts, and we think they are a great option for cakes, pies, or casseroles. Their pleasing purple color is a good option if you want to make an unusual Sweet potato casserole.
Murasaki Sweet Potato
This potato is often erroneously called a “Japanese Sweet Potato”, but it isn’t the same as that Japanese variety. The Murasaki was actually developed in Louisiana. Murasaki sweet potatoes have a reddish-purple skin and pale yellow flesh. They are known for their slightly sweet flavor and dry, starchy texture. They are suitable for both sweet and savory recipes, and can be used in most recipes. Their starchy firm texture, however, makes them a good candidate for fries or wedges.
Nugget Sweet Potato
The Nugget sweet potato was developed by Louisiana State University’s Agricultural Experiment Station in 1954, and is predominantly grown in Louisiana today. They have a golden to copper-colored skin with a vibrant orange flesh, and are known for their smooth texture and moderately sweet flavor. Nuggets are an all-purpose sweet potato given their texture and flavor. They are great baked, roasted, mashed, etc.
O’Henry Sweet Potato
The O’Henry sweet potato was discovered growing naturally in Mississippi in the late 1990s, a natural hybrid of other varieties. They have a creamy white interior and light tan skin, and are known for their smooth texture and mildly sweet taste. Being only mildly sweet but firm, this is a good potato for french frying, roasting, baking, soups, or Sweet potato black bean chili.
Okinawa Purple Sweet Potato (Hawaiian Sweet Potato)
Despite its name, Okinawa sweet potatoes are not native to Hawaii but rather originate from the Okinawa islands in Japan. They were introduced to Hawaii, and have become a popular cultivar there thus the dual name. These potatoes have a distinctive purple skin and a vibrant purple flesh. The flesh may appear almost magenta when cooked. They have a slightly sweeter than most nutty flavor with a moist texture. In Hawaii they are used in both sweet and savory dishes, such as pies, cakes, fries, and mashed potatoes. Their vibrant color also makes them an attractive addition to salads and side dishes. As a firm sweet potato, they are great for fries. Try them as Oven baked sweet potato wedges if you think your family can deal with purple fries.
Red Garnet Sweet Potato
The Red Garnet sweet potato is an American original, and one of the three most popular sweet potatoes in the USA. They have a vibrant reddish-orange flesh and a copper-colored skin, and are known for their moist and tender texture. They are only mildly sweet compared to other varieties, and have a rich flavor that intensifies when cooked. These sweet potatoes are excellent for both savory and sweet dishes. They can be roasted, mashed, or baked. Try them as Sweet potato smashers.
Stokes Purple Sweet Potato
The Stokes Purple is an American-born sweet potato with brown-purple skin and vibrant purple flesh. Though the variety originates from Stokes County, North Carolina, they are mostly grown today in Central California. Stokes Purple, which offers a toned-down sweetness when compared to its orange-hued cousins, is best when roasted, steamed, or baked. Or, just wrap them in plastic wrap and pop them in the microwave. How to microwave sweet potatoes.
Willowleaf Sweet Potato
The Willowleaf sweet potato is a Japanese variety predominantly grown in Japan and other Asian countries with suitably warm climates. Willowleaf sweet potatoes are characterized by their elongated shape and purple skin. They typically have a creamy white flesh with a slightly sweet taste. Due to their shape and texture, Willowleaf sweet potatoes are often used in stir-fries, tempura, or simply roasted or boiled as a side dish. They can also be used in desserts like Loaded sweet potato rounds or made into chips.
sweet potato faq’s
Are Yams and Sweet Potatoes the Same? No, the short answer is yams and sweet potatoes are not the same thing. Many of us use the terms “yam” and “sweet potato” interchangeably incorrectly thinking they are the same. But they belong to entirely different botanical families and possess distinct characteristics. YamsYams are native to both Africa and Asia which is unusual as plants generally begin in one region and spread. Yams tend to be larger than sweet potatoes, cylindrical, and have rough, bark-like skin. Their flesh can range from off-white to vibrant colors such as purple or yellow. In contrast, sweet potatoes have tapered ends, smoother skin, and are available in a wide spectrum of colors, including orange, yellow, and even purple. They are drier and starchier than sweet potatoes. Sweet PotatoesSweet potatoes originated in Central and South America. So why do we confuse the two? Sweet potatoes have a naturally sweet taste with hints of earthiness, and have a creamy soft texture when cooked. Yams, on the other hand, are less sweet. Some varieties of sweet potatoes have a subtle nutty flavor, especially when roasted or baked. This nuttiness is not typically found in yams. Further sweet potatoes tend to have a higher moisture content than yams, which contributes to their soft moist texture when cooked. Why the confusion?It started in the USA where initially we grew hard varieties of sweet potatoes, but in the early 1800s softer varieties were developed and slaves began calling the harder varieties yams as they resembled the yams grown in their native Africa. Nutrences and similarities of these two, we wrote a whole article on yams vs sweet potatoes. What Nations Grow the Most Sweet Potatoes? China is the hands down leading producer growing more than the rest of the world combined. Here are the top ten growers in 2021:
China 70 million (m) metric tons Nigeria 3.5m Tanzania 3.3m Ethiopia 2.7m Indonesia 2.4m Uganda 1.9m Vietnam 1.4m India 1.1m Rwanda 1.1m USA .341m
Within the United States North Carolina is the leading grower producing about 65% of all sweet potatoes grown in the USA. So, there you have it. You are already for trivia night if spuds is a question. Well that wraps up our look at different varieties of sweet potatoes. We hope you found this useful, and as always happy cooking!
