A distinct purple or reddish color skin, inside the sweet potatoes, are creamy white flesh that turns yellow after cooking. The flavor has a sweetness, with a nutty, chestnut-like flavor and texture.

The Japanese satsuma-imo features beautiful dark-purple skin and pale yellow flesh that darkens as it cooks. These sweet potatoes are much denser than most of the orange varieties, and starchier, too. The satsuma-imo trumps the Idaho white with fewer carbs (24 grams vs. 37 grams) and calories (113 vs. 170).