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about sweet potato

What do you want to know about sweet potato

What is a sweet potato?

A sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a tuber that grows on the roots of the sweet potato plant. Although we both consider a potato and a sweet potato to be tubers, they are not related to each other. Sweet potatoes are part of the bindweed family, also known as the morning glory family and potatoes belong to the nightshade family.

The outside of the sweet potato and the “regular” potato are quite similar. However, you can see the difference if you cut them: the flesh of the sweet potato can vary from white to orange and even purple.

Another difference is the taste. As the name suggests, the sweet potato tastes sweet. The brix level determines how sweet the potato is and that is not the same for all varieties.

Different varieties are grown in different parts of the world. Curious to find out which varieties are grown where? Feel free to contact us or read more on this website.

How do sweet potatoes grow?

The majority of sweet potatoes grow in the state of North Carolina in the United States. Sweet potatoes only grow in frost-free areas. They thrive in warm summers (with an average temperature of 24 °C) with long, warm nights.

Read more about our cultivating process

How do you store sweet potatoes?

Sweet potatoes are best stored in a cool, dark place. Do not keep them in the fridge, because the cold will turn them black inside and they will no longer be tasty. You can keep them for more than two weeks in your kitchen cupboard.

No potato, no yam

No regular potato
Because of the strong resemblance with the “regular” potato, you might think the sweet potato is its sibling. But no, the two potatoes are not related. The regular potato is a nightshade, which is a completely different species.

No yam
North Americans often use the words “yam” and “sweet potato” interchangeably. However, there is a difference. Real yams are starchy, edible tubers, usually with a drier taste than sweet potatoes. Yams are rough, flaky, difficult to peel and, unlike the sweet potato, contain very little beta-carotene, a valuable antioxidant.

Are sweet potatoes healthy?

Sweet potatoes are very healthy! They contain no fat and consist of 80% water. Sweet potatoes contain less than a quarter of the carbohydrates of rice, for example.

Sweet potatoes are full of important nutrients. They contain fewer calories and carbohydrates and more fibre than regular potatoes. They also contain a lot of vitamins B and C and minerals, including iron, selenium and calcium. In addition, sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant that is converted into vitamin A in your body.

Sweet potatoes and diabetics

The name sweet potato is actually a little misleading. Sweet potatoes fit perfectly into the diet of people with diabetes. Sweet potatoes have a low glycemic index (63 to 66), which means that the nutrients are slowly absorbed by the body. The complex carbohydrates supply the body with energy for a long time, so that the insulin level does not rise quickly.

What types of sweet potato do we offer?

There are more than a thousand different kinds of sweet potatoes. The best-known variety has orange flesh, but there are also varieties with white and purple flesh. Although the orange variety is the most commonly used variety, the other varieties are also rapidly gaining popularity.

The best-selling variety in Europe is the Covington variety from America. This variety owes its popularity to its firm skin, which make them easy to store and transport. Covington is an orange sweet potato. We also have the varieties Beauregard (orange), Purple Flesh (purple) and White Flesh (white). Take a look at the unique characteristics of these varieties below.

Covington

Covington sweet potatoes can be recognised by their pink skin and orange flesh. This variety is mainly grown in the USA but hardly in Europe. Covington is a relatively more expensive species because the plant is more expensive and yields less potatoes per plant.

Beauregard

Beauregard sweet potatoes can be recognised by their red-orange skin and orange flesh. This variety yields a large harvest, especially in a Central European climate. They are often seen on farms in Egypt and Spain. Beauregard is a relatively cheaper variety: the plant is somewhat cheaper and has a higher yield. Beauregard sweet potatoes are a bit sweeter than Covington, but because of that, they have a shorter shelf life.

Purple Nash & Bushbuck

Purple Flesh sweet potatoes have a slightly sweet taste and – compared to the orange sweet potatoes – are available in small quantities. We receive this product mainly from the USA, but occasionally also from Honduras, China and Brazil. Because of their colour, Purple Flesh sweet potatoes are widely used in the catering industry, since they are perfect to brightening up dishes.

Boniato

White Flesh sweet potatoes are sweet, very tasty and also available in small quantities. We receive this product mainly from the USA, but also occasionally from Honduras, China and Brazil. White Flesh sweet potatoes also widely used in the catering industry.

Specific requests?

In addition to the countries mentioned above, we can be of service to you with other countries of origin. Do you have a customer who only wants Dutch sweet potatoes, and therefore locally grown products? Please let us know your wishes and we will start working with them.

When is sweet potato available?

Calendar

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
USA
Honduras
Brazil
Guatemala
Argentina
Egypt
South Africa
Spain
Portugal
Netherlands
China