# Why do people add sugar to sweet potatoes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 26, 2009, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071 "2009-11-26T23:35:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/21 "2009-11-27T03:12:18Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > French’s yellow mustard ingredients: > > INGREDIENTS: > Distilled Vinegar, Water, No.1 Grade Mustard Seed, Salt, Turmeric, Paprika, Spice, Natural Flavors and Garlic Powder. > > No sugar or HFCS mentioned. Mustard Seed is [about 20% sugar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustard_seed). And I wonder what “Natural Flavors” includes. Anyway, it tastes sweet to me compared with English mustard or Dijon mustard. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/22 "2009-11-27T03:14:04Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Yep - you prove my point. The regular mustard that you put on things like hot dogs (which are usually boiled, I would add) is sweet to British taste buds. This has been addressed by my associate, but we don’t boil hot dogs, we grill them. > [@amarone](#): > > Yeah, yeah. “saved your asses in two world wars” and all that. I can’t decide between, “Humor. It is a difficult concept” and, “well, we did.” 🙂 > [@amarone](#): > > Sausages in baked pancake batter - what is the issue? Well, it sounds really, really gross. > [@amarone](#): > > Well, it is not called that (“black pudding”), but it does indeed taste disgusting. We agree on something, and I have an excuse for losing in the death pool. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/23 "2009-11-27T03:15:40Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > it tastes sweet to me compared with English mustard Interestingly, Coleman’s prepared mustard actually does contain sugar. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/24 "2009-11-27T03:18:27Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Interestingly, Coleman’s prepared mustard actually does contain sugar. Why do you hate America? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/25 "2009-11-27T03:21:11Z")
Coleman’s is an English brand. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/26 "2009-11-27T03:55:14Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Coleman’s is an English brand. Ahhhhh… ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/27 "2009-11-27T04:45:15Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Coleman’s is an English brand. You are Fighting Ignorance, Sir. I salute you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/28 "2009-11-27T04:50:34Z")
Strange, though, that some people find English mustard less sweet than American mustard, when an English prepared mustard contains added sugar. Maybe it’s because it’s hotter? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/29 "2009-11-27T05:07:49Z")
Look, these people invented a language they cannot speak. Give them a break. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dorothea\_Book](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dorothea\_Book](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorothea_Book)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/30 "2009-11-27T05:14:35Z")
Coleman’s mustard is so hot it’s like breathing fire (I love it!). I had no idea there was sugar in it. Perhaps it’s the vinegar in the yellow mustard that makes it taste sweet? In any case, British people have their variations on junk food. While not especially sweet-loving they invented the [chip butty](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_butty). How foul is that? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/31 "2009-11-27T05:16:52Z")
> [@Dorothea\_Book](#): > > While not especially sweet-loving they invented the [chip butty](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_butty). How foul is that? When I first heard of those I thought they sounded disgusting. It still sounds disgusting, now that you bring it up – which is probably what would happen if I ate one. But who am I to talk? I’ve had spaghetti sandwiches. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/32 "2009-11-27T05:52:33Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Because they’re Americans. Is any further explanation really necessary? I’m American and I love sweet potatoes baked and then served with some butter. The ones I ate today were so tasty I didn’t even add butter. The idea of sugar, marshmallows and syrup on them makes my teeth hurt and makes me weep for the poor vegetable. My guess is that people started doing this with poor quality sweet potatoes to make them taste better, but it really is unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/33 "2009-11-27T06:37:27Z")
Because you can. Seriously sweet potatos taste good with or without sugar. It’s like baked beans. I like them plain but you can put a little sugar (or brown sugar, maple syrup, or any sweet thing) in them and they also taste good. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/34 "2009-11-27T06:55:08Z")
Because it tastes good. I like sweet potatoes with a bit of brown sugar and butter. It tastes better than sweet potatoes alone, the same way that regular baked potatoes taste good topped. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/35 "2009-11-27T07:05:44Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > To candy them. If you want to make candied sweet potatoes (why would you when candied yams don’t have all them ‘strings’) you put sugar on it. If you want a baked sweet potato, you don’t. > > I can understand not liking candied yams. I don’t understand the horrified disbelief. As you seem to indicate some knowledge of here: yams and sweet potatoes aren’t the same thing. I’m not exactly clear on the difference and I really don’t understand the wikipedia articles, but in my experience, you candy a yam, not a sweet potato. A sweet potato is similar to a regular potato but has a slight sweet taste to it. I personally don’t care for sweet potatoes and I really don’t think that sugar would make it any better. I’m not sure what an uncandied yam tastes like. A candied yam isn’t something you’d eat with your main course alongside a steak. That would be gross. It goes well on the thanksgiving plate alongside the turkey and stuffing, and just adds something sweet to the meal, just like the cranberry sauce does. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/36 "2009-11-27T11:13:24Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Strange, though, that some people find English mustard less sweet than American mustard, when an English prepared mustard contains added sugar. Maybe it’s because it’s hotter? I think that is quite likely. It is so hot that you don’t really notice much else. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/37 "2009-11-27T11:17:57Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > This has been addressed by my associate, but we don’t boil hot dogs, we grill them. Well, you should, if you want any semblance of decent taste, but all too often they are boiled. I was at a cook-out recently where they even boiled Johnsonville brats, then just finished them off for 5 minutes on the grill. What a waste. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/38 "2009-11-27T11:20:14Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > We agree on something, and I have an excuse for losing in the death pool. 🙂 A new season opens on Tuesday - thanks for the plug in a different forum from the Game Room. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/39 "2009-11-27T11:40:44Z")
> [@janeslogin](#): > > Setting here mindlessly watching a holiday season cooking show and someone was adding sugar to sweet potatoes. > > My spouse and I both like sweet potatoes and frequently cook and eat sweet potatoes but neither of us ever add sugar our sweet potatoes. > > So I turned and asked the spouse “Why do people add sugar to sweet potatoes?” and she said she had no idea. No idea, and unrequired, they are lovely without it… I like to split them, tuck in a bay leaf, and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon, ginger, black pepper and a dab of butter, then wrap in foil and bake. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071/40 "2009-11-27T14:17:16Z")
Agreed. There are 2 ways I’ll eat a sweet potato- baked with a dash of salt and butter, or as I had them yesterday, mashed, with a littlesalt, butter, cinnamon and walnuts. No sugar in sight. They’re sweet enough on their own! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-add-sugar-to-sweet-potatoes/519071.md?page=3)