Ever stood in the produce aisle, staring at a pile of sweet potatoes and wondering if they are really that different? Spoiler alert: yes, they are! Between busy morning workouts, hectic client meetings, and trying to keep your weekly meal prep on track, you are constantly looking for simple, feel-good wins for your day. We get it. Balancing a demanding schedule while keeping your wellness goals in mind is a daily journey. That is why getting to know the colorful world of sweet potatoes is such a fun way to bring excitement back to your kitchen and your snack plate.

While they might look similar on the outside, these amazing root vegetables come in a surprising range of colors, textures, and flavors hiding beneath their skins. From creamy and buttery to dense, nutty, and sweet, getting to know them unlocks a whole new world of delicious possibilities. Let's dive into this guide to all types of sweet potatoes and discover your next favorite!

Are Sweet Potatoes Yams?

Definitely not! It is a common misunderstanding in grocery stores, but yams and sweet potatoes are entirely different plants. While true yams are related to lilies and are native to Africa and Asia, sweet potatoes belong to the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae (which explains why their quickly growing vines produce such beautiful, pink morning-glory-like flowers). Sweet potatoes originated in Central and South America as early as 8,000 B.C. and have been cherished for centuries.

The Sweet Potato Spectrum: Categories and Varieties

To make your next grocery trip easy, we have organized some of the most popular and delicious sweet potatoes into four distinct categories based on their color and culinary characteristics.

1. The Classic Orange Sweet Potatoes

These are the most familiar sweet potatoes in the supermarket aisle. Their vibrant orange color indicates a high beta-carotene content, a precursor to vitamin A that supports healthy vision and immune function [1]. They are also a wonderful source of potassium and vitamin C. In fact, both potatoes and sweet potatoes provide about a third of your daily value of vitamin C and actually contain more potassium than a banana [2], [3]!

• Beauregard: This is the quintessential sweet potato with rose-gold skin and deep orange flesh. They are reliably sweet, moist, and perfect for baking whole or roasting into caramelized wedges.
• Covington: A favorite in the American South, Covingtons have dusty rose skin and bright orange flesh. When roasted, they develop a creamy, smooth texture and a rich, malty sweetness.
• Jewel: With smooth copper skin and bright orange flesh, Jewels are dependably moist and hold their shape slightly better than Beauregards. This makes them a perfect choice for hashes, stews, or sweet potato pie fillings.

2. The Mild and Starchy White and Yellow Sweet Potatoes

If you want to step away from the classic orange crowd, white and yellow sweet potatoes offer a drier, fluffier texture that behaves wonderfully in savory dishes.

• Hannah: Sporting a light tan, potato-like skin and pale cream flesh, Hannahs are firm, dense, and pleasantly dry when cooked. They have a subtle, delicate sweetness, making them a perfect bridge potato if you find orange varieties too sweet.
• Murasaki: Do not let the name fool you. While Murasaki means purple in Japanese, this variety features a dark purple-red skin but a crisp, white flesh. When slow-roasted, it develops a silken texture and a subtle, floral flavor.
• Japanese Satsuma-Imo: With distinctive purplish-red skin and pale yellow flesh, Satsuma-Imo cooks up exceptionally dry, fluffy, and dense. It boasts a concentrated, nutty sweetness often compared to roasted chestnuts.

3. The Vibrant Purple Sweet Potatoes

For those looking to eat the rainbow, purple sweet potatoes deliver a stunning visual pop and are packed with natural plant pigments.

• Okinawa: Originally from Japan and popular in Hawaii, these tubers look plain on the outside, but slicing them open reveals a deep, intense purple interior. They are dense and grainy when raw, but bake up soft and sweet while keeping their gorgeous color.
• Korean Purple: With a dark purple skin and yellowish flesh, these are a beloved street-food snack in Korea. They are typically wrapped in foil and roasted over open coals, yielding a sweet, chestnut-like flavor.

4. Unique Heritage and Global Varieties

These varieties boast rich cultural histories and unique cooking styles that make them standout additions to any kitchen.

• Kumara: As New Zealand's star root vegetable, Kumara has a rich history brought to the Pacific islands by the Maori people. They come in red, gold, and orange, offering varying levels of sweetness that pair beautifully with savory herbs or roasted meats.
• Camote: The Spanish word for sweet potato, Camotes are deeply integrated into Mexican culinary culture. Street vendors often steam them and serve them warm, drizzled with sweet cinnamon, condensed milk, or honey.
• Cilembu: Hailing from a small village in Indonesia, Cilembus are famous for naturally glazing and caramelizing when slow-roasted, releasing a sweet, honey-like syrup. Just don't boil or steam them, or you will lose their signature sweet glaze!

Ingredient-Aware Snacking with Jackson's

Mindful eating is all about choosing ingredients your body recognizes, and that applies to your snack cabinet too. When you are juggling a busy week, finding satisfying, feel-good snacks is just as important as selecting fresh produce.

At Jackson's, we believe in keeping things simple: real sweet potatoes, avocado oil, and seasoning. We start with real sweet potatoes, kettle-cooked in avocado oil, and finished with delicious seasoning. 

Conclusion: Empower Your Snacking

Exploring the sweet potato spectrum is an empowering way to bring diverse flavors and satisfying textures into your kitchen. Whether you are roasting a batch of dry and nutty Japanese Satsuma-Imo, caramelizing sweet Beauregards, or enjoying a bag of Jackson's kettle-cooked chips, embracing real food ingredients is a wonderful way to support your daily routine. The best decisions are the ones that fit seamlessly into your life and leave you feeling ready for whatever the day brings.

Grab a bag of Jackson's Sweet Potato Chips today to experience the ultimate crunch, and keep exploring feel-good foods that fit seamlessly into your life!

Read next: The Full Body Benefits of Avocado Oil

References

1. Rochester Medical: Beta-carotene is a precursor to Vitamin A supporting healthy vision, immune function, and skin health: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=19&contentid=betacarotene
2. Harvard Health: Sweet potatoes are loaded with Vitamin A, Vitamin C, potassium, and fiber supporting the immune system: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/sweet-potatoes
3. Harvard Health: Sweet potatoes have more potassium than a banana and provide about a third of the daily value of Vitamin C: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/bananas