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Japanese sweet potatoes are medium to large in size and are cylindrical, oblong, and slightly bulbous in shape with rounded to tapered ends. The textured skin has a smooth, semi-rough consistency with a few shallow eyes and ranges in color from pink, red, purple, to light brown with a red undertone. When raw, the flesh is firm and dense with a creamy white to pale yellow hue, deepening to a golden yellow and developing a softer feel when cooked. Japanese sweet potatoes offer a drier, starchier texture than other sweet potato varieties and have a subtly sweet, nutty, and slightly floral, chestnut-like flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Japanese sweet potatoes are available year-round in North America, with a peak season in the late summer through winter.
Current Facts
Japanese sweet potatoes, botanically classified as Ipomoea batatas, are a dry-fleshed root that grows on sprawling vines and are members of the Convolvulaceae or morning glory family. Also known as Oriental sweet potatoes and Japanese yams in the United States, Japanese sweet potatoes are a generic descriptor used for varieties that have red-purple skin and white flesh. Originally from Asia, these varieties have slowly increased in popularity in North America as consumers recognize the root’s antioxidant-rich properties. With an increase in demand, American breeders are developing improved Japanese varieties to create a year-round supply that have extended storage capabilities, resistance to disease, and enhanced flavor. Common regional names of these potatoes include Kotobuki, Murasaki, and Boniato, but in some marketplaces, the roots are often labeled generically as Japanese sweet potatoes.
Nutritional Value
Japanese sweet potatoes contain fiber, thiamin, calcium, potassium, and vitamins A and C.
Applications
Japanese sweet potatoes are best suited for cooked applications such as roasting, baking, boiling, stir-frying, and steaming. The roots are most commonly consumed with the skin on and are roasted or baked whole to be served by themselves or topped with vegetables and sauces. The sweet potatoes can also be mixed in a breakfast hash, diced and served with pasta, sliced into curries, tossed into salads, fried for tempura, or incorporated into soups and stews. Japanese sweet potatoes pair well with meats such as pork chops, poultry, and steak, poached eggs, prunes, rice, sesame seeds, shiitake mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, scallions, onions, garlic, rosemary, thyme, miso, mirin, and wasabi. The roots will keep up to a week when stored in a cool, dry, and dark place with good air circulation.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Varieties of Japanese sweet potatoes that were created in the United States have become popular in the American market for their drier flesh, antioxidant-rich skin, and are used as a nutrient powerhouse in healthy home cooking. As consumer need expands beyond the typical white and orange-fleshed varieties, demand for a year-round supply of specialty sweet potatoes encourages breeders to create new, improved varieties. To meet this demand, there are two breeding programs in the United States at Louisiana State University and at North Carolina State University, and these programs work with local farms to create new specialty varieties with improved resistance to disease, visually pleasing colors, enhanced flavor, and long storage capabilities.
Geography/History
Sweet potatoes are native to South or Central America and were then introduced via explorers to Europe in the late 15th century and to Asia and the United States in the mid-16th century. Japanese sweet potatoes became commercially popular in the American market within the last few decades, and new varieties are being created each year. Today Japanese sweet potatoes can be found at specialty grocers and farmers markets and are grown in California, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana of the United States.
Hamlow Ranches
PO Box 898, Denair, CA
209-664-1447
Japanese sweet potatoes are medium to large in size, cylindrical to oblong with rounded ends, and feature textured skin that varies from pink and red to purple or light brown. Inside, the flesh is creamy white to pale yellow when raw, turning golden yellow when cooked. They have a drier, starchier texture compared to other varieties and are known for their subtly sweet, nutty flavor with floral and chestnut-like undertones, making them both versatile and satisfying.
Specialty Produce
1929 Hancock St Suite 150 San Diego CA 92110
View on Instagram
(619) 295-3172 [email protected]
Japanese sweet potatoes are incredibly versatile in the kitchen, ideal for methods like roasting, baking, boiling, stir-frying, and steaming. They are often enjoyed whole with the skin on, either plain or topped with vegetables and sauces. They also make excellent additions to dishes like breakfast hash, pasta, soups, stews, curries, and even tempura. For storage, they can last up to a week in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area.
SPECIALTY PRODUCE
1929 Hancock St San Diego 92110
View on Instagram
(619) 295-3172 [email protected]
Japanese sweet potatoes are a nutritional powerhouse, offering fiber, thiamin, calcium, potassium, and vitamins A and C. These nutrients support digestion, bone strength, heart health, and immune function, making them not only flavorful but also highly beneficial for overall health when included in a balanced diet.
Hamlow Ranches
PO Box 898, Denair, CA
209-664-1447
Japanese sweet potatoes are originally from South or Central America and were brought to Asia in the mid-16th century. They have gained commercial popularity in the United States only in recent decades. These sweet potatoes are now grown in states like California, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana, and they can be found at specialty grocers and farmers markets across the country. New varieties continue to emerge every year.
SPECIALTY PRODUCE
1929 Hancock St San Diego 92110
View on Instagram
(619) 295-3172 [email protected]
Japanese sweet potatoes are valued in the American market not only for their unique drier texture but also for their antioxidant-rich skin, making them a favorite in healthy home recipes. Breeding programs at Louisiana State University and North Carolina State University collaborate with farmers to develop new varieties with vibrant colors, better flavor, disease resistance, and extended storage life to meet growing year-round demand.
SPECIALTY PRODUCE
1929 Hancock St San Diego 92110
View on Instagram
(619) 295-3172 [email protected]
Japanese Sweet Potatoes: These sweet potatoes have a distinctive appearance with skin colors ranging from pink, red, and purple to light brown with red undertones. The flesh turns from creamy white or pale yellow when raw to a rich golden yellow when cooked. They are known for a drier, starchier texture compared to other varieties and a subtly sweet, nutty, chestnut-like flavor that deepens during cooking.
From Hamlow Ranches Farm…Japanese sweet potatoes are incredibly versatile, ideal for roasting, baking, boiling, stir-frying, and steaming. They can be enjoyed whole, served alongside vegetables and sauces, or incorporated into dishes like curries, soups, and breakfast hashes. Pair them with ingredients such as shiitake mushrooms, garlic, rosemary, or miso for a delicious combination. Store them in a cool, dry, dark place for up to a week to maintain freshness.
From Hamlow Farmers Market…Japanese sweet potatoes are part of the morning glory family and are gaining popularity in North America due to their antioxidant-rich properties. Known for their red-purple skin and white flesh, these potatoes are not only delicious but also a good source of fiber, potassium, calcium, and vitamins A and C. They go by names like Kotobuki, Murasaki, and Boniato, and American breeders are working on varieties with enhanced flavor and disease resistance.
Fresno Evergreen
Japanese Sweet Potatoes from Fresno Evergreen…Japanese sweet potatoes are known for their unique flavor and history. Originating in Asia, they were introduced to the United States in the mid-16th century. Today, these sweet potatoes have gained commercial popularity in America over recent decades and are cultivated in regions like California, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana, often found at specialty grocers and farmers markets.
Specialty Produce
1929 Hancock St Suite 150 San Diego CA 92110
View on Instagram
(619) 295-3172 [email protected]
Japanese Sweet Potatoes from Milliken Family Farms…Japanese Sweet Potatoes: Japanese sweet potatoes developed in the United States have gained popularity for their drier flesh and nutrient-rich skin. Breeding programs at Louisiana State University and North Carolina State University collaborate with local farms to create new varieties with improved disease resistance, vibrant colors, enhanced flavors, and extended storage traits, catering to year-round market demand.
is easiest, three is harder.
