Sweet Potato History

Sweet Potato History

Sweet potatoes, botanically known as Ipomoea batatas, are the root of a vine in the morning glory family and native to the New World tropics. Its history dates back to 750 B.C. in Peruvian records. Columbus brought the sweet potato to the New World from the island of Saint Thomas.

The Taino word for them was batatas which eventually became patata in Spanish, patae in French, and potato in English. At that time, potato referred to the sweet potato, and not the generic white potato as it does in English nowadays.

In fact, according to noted food historian Waverly Root, the white potato did not arrive in the northern regions from South America until the late 17th century, more than a hundred years later.

More About Sweet Potatoes and Yams

• The Difference Between Sweet Potatoes and Yams
• Sweet Potato Selection and Storage
• Sweet Potato Fact Sheet
• Yam Selection and Storage
• Yam Fact Sheet
• Sweet Potato and Yam Health Benefits
• Sweet Potato History
• Sweet Potato / Yam Recipes
_{Sweet Potatoes and Yams Photo © 2006 Peggy Trowbridge, licensed to About.com, Inc.}