Oriental Beauty Sweet Potato
This is my new favorite variety of sweet potato, The Oriental Beauty. A version that originates from Japan. It really is a beauty, with the purple skin. The potato itself is also firmer and doesn’t get as soft as the other variety.
These Oriental Beauty Sweet Potato were grown in California by AV Thomas Produce. Sweet potatoes are most unlikely to be contaminated with pesticides. But always best to scrub and peel the skin before eating.
When I want a piece of cake, I end up with sweet potatoes. Not because I don’t like cake, it’s just that I usually have sweet potatoes (or yams) around.
There was even a time when I used to eat raw sweet potatoes. But that was a long time ago. These days it’s usually steamed, baked and sometimes fried.
Sweet potatoes and yams are a super food, packed with Vitamin A and beta carotene.
Dr. Cordell’s list on the benefits of eating sweet potatoes:
-One cup of cooked sweet potatoes provides 1,922 mcg_RAE of beta carotene (Vitamin A). It would take 16 cups of broccoli to provide the same amount.
-Sweet potatoes are a great source of vitamin E, and they are virtually fat-free, which makes them a real Vitamin E standout. Most Vitamin E rich foods, such as vegetable oils, nuts and avocados, contain a hefty dose of fat.
-Sweet potatoes provide many other essential nutrients including Vitamin B6, potassium and iron.
-Sweet potatoes are a good source of dietary fiber which helps to promote a healthy digestive tract. Sweet potatoes have more fiber than oatmeal.
-Sweet potatoes are a complex carbohydrate which means they digest more slowly than white potatoes and therefore will not cause your blood sugar to spike.
So are these yams or sweet potatoes? I mostly refer to them as yams because it’s what I’m used to calling them. According to Earth Bound Farms, the names are used interchangeably.
“In the US today, the terms “yam” and “sweet potato” aroften used interchangeably to refer to a range of tubers with pointy ends, ruddy skin and delectably sweet flesh. - Earth Bound Farms
“there are two varieties grown in the United States. They are best known as “soft”and “firm”. Those farmed up North, mostly “firm”, tend to be drier, more mealy, and yellow in flesh. Southerners indulge in the second type, “soft”, which is higher in sugar, moister, and has a bright orange flesh color. Most often it is the “soft” type which we refer to as a yam.” - M. Christian of CNN
9:20 pm on September 6th, 2012
I call it sweet potatoes, and do love them fried than steam but I know it is not as healthy. The name Oriental Beauty does have a nice ring to it. And thanks for the post, I have to make sure Lee eats more sweet potatoes, she likes them fried also.
10:51 pm on September 9th, 2012
I guess that’s why county fair food is so fun - because it’s mostly fried! Yes I think kids would eat more veggies if it tasted better.
As for the name, I know some Asians think “oriental” isn’t a nice word. Personally (being Asian) it doesn’t bother me at all.
11:28 pm on February 15th, 2013
Had my first Oriental Beauty tonight and usually add a sprinkle of brown sugar, but this was so naturally sweet I omitted sugar. Will go stock up before Alaska runs out!
11:50 pm on February 17th, 2013
I do love these sweet potato… but I haven’t seen them lately at the market. Maybe I should have stocked up too.