Red Moon Potatoes
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Red Moon potatoes vary in size, depending on growing conditions and maturity at harvest, but are generally a small to medium varietal with a long, oval, to oblong shape. The tubers are relatively uniform with blunt, curved ends, and a few medium-set eyes are scattered across the surface that do not affect the overall shape. Red Moon potatoes have semi-thick, smooth, and taut skin that may bear a few raised rough patches. The skin also showcases dark red, red-purple hues and is said to be easy to peel after cooking. Underneath the surface, the yellow flesh is dense, solid, firm, and slippery when raw. Once the flesh is cooked, the yellow hues deepen and grow darker while the flesh becomes moist and sticky. Red Moon potatoes hold their shape well when heated and are known for their texture. The variety is edible once cooked and has a rich, sweet, and subtly earthy flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Red Moon potatoes are harvested in the summer in Japan, typically between late June and September. Each region has its own maturity window, lasting around 1 to 2 months of availability. Warmer-growing regions harvest in late June through July, while cooler regions harvest late July through September.
Current Facts
Red Moon potatoes, botanically classified as Solanum tuberosum, are a specialty variety belonging to the Solanaceae or nightshade family. The late-season tubers were developed and released in the 20th century as a home garden and small-scale commercial cultivar. Red Moon potatoes are only available for 1 to 2 months each year as the entire crop must be gathered by hand. The plant’s tough stems and roots are unsuitable for mechanical harvests, leading growers to uproot each potato using shovels, rakes, and hand-operated equipment. Red Moon potatoes also must be delicately handled to protect their rosy exterior, making them a labor-intensive variety. As a result, very few commercial growers choose to cultivate the variety. Most plantings of Red Moon potatoes are established in home gardens throughout potato-growing regions in Japan. Despite their low production rate, Red Moon potatoes are a rare cultivar favored for their saturated coloring, dense, sticky flesh, and sweet, rich taste. The variety has a moist flesh that holds its shape well and is utilized in a wide array of savory cooked preparations.
Nutritional Value
Red Moon potatoes have not been studied for their nutritional properties. Potatoes, in general, are a source of fiber to stimulate and improve digestion while vitamins B and C help to strengthen the immune system and aid in energy production. Potatoes also provide potassium to balance and replenish fluid levels within the body, calcium and phosphorus to support bone and teeth development, and iron to produce the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream. Other nutrients include vitamin K, folate, zinc, magnesium, and manganese.
Applications
Red Moon potatoes have a rich, sweet taste suited for cooked preparations. The variety is a choice ingredient for soups and stews. Red Moon potatoes are often used in homemade Japanese curries, and these meals are comprised of a thick, stew-like dish with savory gravy, vegetables, and meat served over rice. Red moon potatoes are also frequently utilized for potato salads and are tossed in a mixture of boiled eggs, mayonnaise, carrots, cucumbers, and vinegar. Try boiling Red Moon potatoes and serving with butter and fresh herbs as a simple dish. The contrasting colors between the red skin and yellow flesh create an aesthetically pleasing presentation. Red Moon potatoes are also sliced into wedges and fried, diced and added to various stir-fries, or added into other kinds of stews, including nikujaga, a well-known home-cooked dish in Japan. Red Moon potatoes pair well with other root vegetables, mushrooms, aromatics such as garlic, shallots, and onions, and flavorings including dashi, sake, soy sauce, miso, and mirin. Whole, unwashed Red Moon potatoes will keep for several weeks when stored in a cool, dry, and dark location with ample air circulation.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Red Moon potatoes are sometimes sold under other names given by vendors and the public in Japan. Several of these names reference other varieties commonly sold in Japanese markets as a method to make textural and flavor comparisons. Red Moon potatoes are often called Red May Queen potatoes, named for their red skin coloring and sticky flesh. May Queen potatoes are a distinct variety in Japan and are one of the most commercially grown varieties in Hokkaido, the prefecture that also mainly produces Red Moon potatoes. Hokkaido cultivates over 80% of the potatoes sold in Japan and is a region known for its ideal potato-growing climate. Even though Red Moon potatoes are different from May Queen potatoes, they are given the nickname Red May Queen or Beni May Queen to highlight their long shape and similar sticky flesh when cooked. Red Moon potatoes are also occasionally called Red Echo potatoes, their original given name when introduced to the public in Japan.
Geography/History
Red Moon potatoes were created by the Sakata Seed Corporation, a Japanese seed company that develops and sells vegetable and flower seeds. It is said that Sakata acquired seeds from the Pan American Seed Company in the United States in 1982 and used those seeds in breeding to produce an improved potato with characteristics suitable for home gardening. Traits such as flavor, ease of growth, texture, and appearance were evaluated to create the new cultivar. A few years after the initial trials, a new potato was chosen by the Sakata Seed Corporation and was initially called Red Echo potatoes. This variety was submitted for registration in 1988 and was officially registered with the Japanese government in 1991. After its release, the tuber’s name was changed to Red Moon to fit new marketing needs. Today, Red Moon potatoes are a rare variety grown in Japan. The variety’s protection under the Seed and Seedlings Act of Japan expired in 2006, now allowing home gardeners throughout Japan to freely cultivate the tubers. Red Moon potatoes are primarily grown in the Hokkaido and Okinawa Prefectures in Japan. When in season, Red Moon potatoes are found directly through growers, specialty markets, and select wholesalers in Japan.
