From vibrant purple Okinawan Sweet Potatoes to Japanese Murasaki, Garnet, Jewel and other specialty varieties, sweet potatoes offer an incredible range of colors, flavors and textures.
Whether you're looking for the perfect sweet potato for roasting, baking, mashing or something entirely new, this guide will help you discover different sweet potato varieties, understand what makes each one unique and find delicious ways to enjoy them.
There is much more to sweet potatoes than the familiar orange varieties.
Depending on the variety, sweet potatoes can have orange, white, cream or brilliant purple flesh, with skins ranging from tan and copper to red and deep reddish-purple. Their flavors and textures are just as diverse—some are moist and creamy, while others are firmer and slightly drier, with flavors that can be sweet, earthy, nutty or honeyed.
Melissa's offers an exciting selection of specialty sweet potatoes for everything from simple weeknight meals to colorful dishes and creative recipes.
Don't let the unassuming exterior fool you. Slice open an Okinawan Sweet Potato and you'll discover spectacular flesh ranging from magenta to deep purple, sometimes marbled with lighter shades.
Okinawan Sweet Potatoes have a naturally honeyed, slightly earthy flavor and creamy texture. Their beautiful purple color remains when cooked, making them as visually striking as they are delicious.
Bake or roast them to bring out their natural sweetness, gently steam them, turn them into colorful fries or chips, or use them to add brilliant color and flavor to soups, breads, cakes, pies and gnocchi.
Best for: Baking, roasting, steaming, fries, soups and desserts
Japanese Murasaki Sweet Potatoes are distinguished by their attractive reddish-purple skin and surprisingly white interior.
Their rich, sweet and slightly nutty flavor is paired with a somewhat drier texture than many orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. That makes Murasaki especially versatile in the kitchen.
Enjoy them baked whole, roasted, boiled, mashed or sliced and diced for high-heat cooking.
Best for: Baking, roasting, mashing and sautéing
Garnet Sweet Potatoes are known for their reddish-purple skin and moist orange-yellow flesh.
Sometimes called red yams, Garnets have a rich flavor and succulent texture that works beautifully in both simple and indulgent sweet potato dishes.
Best for: Baking, roasting, mashing and holiday dishes
Jewel Sweet Potatoes are a classic orange-fleshed variety with copper-colored skin and a soft, moist texture when cooked.
Their familiar flavor and versatility make them an excellent choice for everyday meals as well as traditional sweet potato favorites.
Bake them whole, roast them until caramelized, mash them into a creamy side dish or use them in sweet potato pie.
Best for: Baking, roasting, mashing, candied sweet potatoes and pies
Baby sweet potatoes offer all the flavor of their larger counterparts in a convenient petite size.
Their smaller size makes them especially useful for quick roasting and baking, and they're beautiful served whole or halved as an easy side dish.
Melissa's selection includes several specialty baby sweet potato varieties, giving you an easy way to explore different colors, flavors and textures.
Best for: Roasting, baking and easy side dishes
