Q. Edward Wang, "Staple to Superfood: A Global History of the Sweet Potato" (Columbia UP, 2025)

Jan 14, 2026

In this engaging discussion, Q. Edward Wang, an eminent history professor, dives into the fascinating journey of the sweet potato. He reveals how this once humble crop transformed identities and fueled population growth in Asia. From its introduction to Europe as an aphrodisiac to its role in Japan’s imperial ambitions, Wang highlights its global impact. He also distinguishes sweet potatoes from white potatoes and explores why they're dubbed a 'superfood' today. Plus, insights on agricultural change and historical food narratives make this a must-listen!

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INSIGHT

Sweet Potato Is Not A White Potato

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is botanically unrelated to the white potato and belongs to the morning-glory family.
It is a swollen root crop while the white potato is a tuber on the stem, affecting uses and storage.

INSIGHT

Why Sweet Potato Thrives Where Others Fail

Sweet potato offers higher energy, broad soil tolerance, and edible leaves, making it versatile for humans and animals.
Those traits explain its appeal as a high-yield, resilient subsistence crop globally.

ANECDOTE

Kumara's Pacific Mystery

Archaeology shows sweet potato reached eastern Polynesia centuries before Europeans, sparking debate on who carried it.
Some scholars argue Polynesians sailed to South America and brought kumara back home.

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Sweet potatoes were among the American crops Christopher Columbus brought back to Europe—where they were thought to be an aphrodisiac. In China, this versatile root became a staple that fueled rapid population growth. Introduced to Japan to stave off famine, sweet potatoes later sustained the country’s imperial expansion. Because this hardy plant can thrive in almost any soil, it has long been cultivated as a subsistence crop in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Oceania. In recent years, Western health experts have begun touting the humble sweet potato as a “superfood” with numerous nutritional benefits.

Considering these events and many others, Staple to Superfood: A Global History of the Sweet Potato (Columbia UP, 2025) explores the sweet potato’s rich history and remarkable global influence. Dr. Q. Edward Wang demonstrates how this resilient root has not only nourished communities but also defined their identities. Tracing its journeys through the intricate networks of global trade and cultural exchange, he shows how the sweet potato transformed agricultural practices, culinary traditions, and social structures worldwide. From the Americas to Europe to Asia and the Pacific, the spread of this crop illuminates the varied paths that global development has taken. Dr. Wang also contrasts the sweet potato with its botanically unrelated namesake, the white potato. Blending agricultural, cultural, and historical perspectives, Staple to Superfood offers a fresh look at the power of food to transform societies. It is a compelling exploration of how the sweet potato shaped the modern world and continues to influence global food systems today.

This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda’s interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.

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