Sweet potato

Ipomoea batata, is originally from tropical America though its exact birth place is not known. Skin colour is reddish brown, pink or white, and the flesh ranges from deep orange through yellow to white. Some confusion arises about sweet potatoes since those with moist orange-yellow flesh and reddish brown skin are also known as Louisiana yams. Yams, however, are from an entirely different botanical group, the Dioscoreas. Two other sweet potatoes are available, both far less sweet than the Louisiana yam. One has fairly dry mealy flesh which is yellowish in colour. The boniato, which is brown or pink skinned with white flesh, is only very slightly sweet. This is the preferred sweet potato of the islands, and the one most widely available in England.