Discovering the Roots of Sweet Potato Pie: Unraveling Its Historical Significance
Let's dive into the tasty tale behind everyone's favorite holiday treat: sweet potato pie! Whether you're a die-hard fan or just getting acquainted, you're about to unearth a history that's sweeter than syrup.
From humble beginnings in the forests of Peru to the glorious decadence of modern-day kitchens, sweet potato pie has ascended to iconic status in American households. Although turkey may steal the show, this velvety dessert gives it a run for its money. Sweet potato pie, a timeless delight that transcends regional, political, and generational divides, even rivals the revered pumpkin pie!
A Little Sweet Potato History
The tale of sweet potato pie dates back to the very roots of the country's culinary history. As it turns out, slavery played a significant part in sweet potatoes' journey to kitchens across the nation.
When sweet potatoes were introduced to North America and Europe via the transatlantic slave trade, they flourished in the Southern states due to their preference for warmer climates. As Adrian Miller, a renowned food historian, explains, Spanish traders originally introduced the vegetable worldwide[1].
The marvel of sweet potatoes captivated Western Europeans, who were used to mixing fruits and vegetables in their baked goods. By the mid-1700s, British cookbooks such as The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy were featuring sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and other veggies in tarts, pastries, and puddings – setting the stage for the modern-day culinary fusion we adore[2].
As word spread among the Western elites, including Southern plantation owners, they too wanted a piece of the action. With cooking tasks delegated to enslaved African Americans, their learning of sweet potatoes commenced.
In contrast, pumpkins found favor in the Northern states and, with their autumnal yield, came to be closely associated with Thanksgiving by the late 19th century[2].
A Dessert Story – From Pone to Pie
Before the sweet potato pie we know today, there was pone: a crustless, molasses-spiced sweet potato dessert. Devoid of access to cooking equipment and flour, enslaved cooks invented this delicacy by baking sweet potatoes in the hearth.
Michael Twitty, author of The Cooking Gene, highlights that annual sweet potato pie consumption pays tribute to this modified culinary tradition. As African American cooks gained access to stoves, a true sweet potato pie became increasingly popular on dessert tables[2].
A Matter of Names – Yams vs. Sweet Potatoes
For many African Americans, sweet potatoes hold deep stories of resilience and culinary prowess. Sweet potato casserole and candied yams are caramelized iterations of the tuber that all take us back to the antebellum era. To be clear, candied yams are not actually made from yams – a tuber native to Africa.
According to Twitty, the term "yam" actually comes from Wolof, a Western African language, and refers to the verb "nyam," meaning "to eat"[3]. West Africans were initially reluctant to embrace the sweet potato when it was first introduced. Over time, enslaved Black Americans started to use the words "yam" and "sweet potato" synonymously – a testament to their resourcefulness when it came to food[3].
From Agricultural Origins to Festive Delights
Sweet potato pie stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit and remarkable culinary ingenuity of African Americans. Michael Twitty explains, "Sweet potato pie has such a strong nostalgia factor that a fantastic version reminds one of a beloved cook, family gatherings, and community events"[4].
So if you happen to catch a sweet potato pie on your holiday table this year, be sure to thank the chef for keeping history alive and indulge in all its sweet glory!
Sources
[1] Miller, Adrian. Soul Food, published by Wiley, 2007
[2] Miller, Adrian. Black Food: A Secret History, published by St. Martin's Press, 2021
[3] Twitty, Michael W. The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South, published by Amistad, 2017
[4] Smith, Jessica B. “Sweet Potato Pie: A Deep History of an American Favorite.” The Takeout, 27 Nov. 2020, https://thetakeout.com/sweet-potato-pie-history-black-american-thanksgiving-1845943917
[5] Williams, Kara Newman. "The History and Legacy of Sweet Potato Pie." Serious Eats, 26 Nov. 2019, https://www.seriouseats.com/essay-why-sweet-potato-pie-matters
- Despite the popularity of turkey, sweet potato pie gives it a fierce competition, a timeless delight that transcends boundaries across American households.
- According to Adrian Miller, a renowned food historian, the marvel of sweet potatoes captivated Western Europeans, setting the stage for the modern culinary fusion we appreciate today.
- A testament to the resourcefulness of enslaved African Americans, the term "yam" actually comes from Wolof, a Western African language, and refers to the verb "nyam," meaning "to eat."
- As we savor a slice of sweet potato pie this holiday season, we are not just tasting dessert but also thanking the chef for preserving a rich history, a tribute to the indomitable spirit and remarkable culinary ingenuity of African Americans.
