The American potato, also called sweet potato or batata, is not related to the common potato. However,Its sweet and slightly floury pulp has a flavour similar to that of common potatoes and chestnuts.

The cultivation of this tuber, native to tropical climates, has now spread to Europe. Rich in vitamins and mineral salts, the sweet potato is an important ingredient of African and Caribbean cuisines thanks to its easy digestibility as well as its remarkable quantity of nutrients and energy.

Its food use is identical to that of potatoes, but it is also used in the preparation of sweets and breads.