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The Sweet Side of Japan: A Culinary Tour of Japanese Sweet Potatoes
As autumn approaches, Japan is about to experience an abundance of sweet potatoes in its domestic cuisine. Here’s your chance to learn how these root vegetables are grown and used in Japanese dishes, snacks, and desserts. You’ll also discover the country’s cultural perception of the sweet potato. Japan has arguably the most endearing relationship with this vegetable, and you’re about to find out why.
Introduction to Japanese Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potato is a staple in Japanese cuisine, even though it didn’t originate there. You have probably seen this root vegetable sold in grocery stores and supermarkets in your country. However, sweet potatoes in Japan are unique. While regular versions have brown, orange, red, or yellow skin, Japanese sweet potatoes are famous for their purple skins and yellow or white flesh. However, most people don’t know that these purple sweet potatoes are mostly one variant called murasaki. The word “satsuma-imo” is used as a general term for all sweet potatoes in Japan, even though purple-skinned variants are often used in domestic cuisine.
Once considered emergency crops to be used as backups in case of poor rice harvests, sweet potatoes in Japan are currently major ingredients in traditional sweets and snacks. People in the country cook Japanese sweet potatoes a lot during the fall season (mid-November to early December).
The History of Sweet Potatoes in Japan
Originally from Central America, sweet potatoes found their way to Japan in the 17th century. The earliest versions of the crop were grown in the Satsuma Province, which is located in the southern part of modern-day Kyushu. When it moved to the mainland, people called this strange version of the common potato (imo) “satsuma-imo” in reference to where it came from.
Sweet potatoes had special traits that caught the eye of a Japanese military commander (shogun) in 1732. The crop was highly resilient and could grow in infertile or deficient soil. It was also highly nutritious, providing the body with essential fiber and vitamins. The shogun believed sweet potatoes were the perfect crops to cultivate as backups to rice during periods of poor rice harvests and famine. He shared these beliefs with his subjects, and the sweet potato became known as an “emergence crop.” Over the centuries, it has served Japanese people well during periods of food shortages.
During the Meiji period (1868-1912), sweet potatoes began to be used in Western-style desserts. They soon became a staple filling and ingredient in traditional Japanese sweets, known as wagashi. In the late 20th century and early 21st century, Japanese farmers produced over 100 unique types of local sweet potatoes with varying skin textures, flesh colors, and sugar content. Today, 1.5 million tons of the crop are produced in Japan every year.
Varieties of Japanese Sweet Potatoes
There are dozens of sweet potato varieties currently in Japan. Some of them, like murasaki, are popular worldwide and used in many foreign countries. Others are not as famous but still see extensive use in local cuisine.
Many people do not consider okinawan sweet potatoes (beni imo) to be satsuma-imo, so we won’t include them in our list. The following are the different types of Japanese sweet potatoes:
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Beni Azuma: This is the most common variety of sweet potatoes in Japan. First produced in Ibaraki Prefecture in the 1980s, beni azuma is famous for its purplish-red color, yellow flesh, firm texture, and mild sweetness. Its flavor profile and firmness make it ideal for roasting or deep-frying to use as tempura.
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Murasaki: This popular sweet potato was invented in Louisiana in 2001. People all over the world love it for the deep purple color of its skin, the creaminess of its flesh, and the starchy texture it brings. Murasaki has a high starch content, which is good for roasting or mashing into soups and stews.
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Anno: Anno imo originated in Indonesia, but it’s considered a type of Japanese sweet potato. The color of its skin is a combination of brown, orange, and red. However, the orange sweet potato changes to a bright yellow after cooking. Anno imo is a very sweet variant, so people often use it to make cakes, cookies, and other sweets.
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Shiruku Suiito: In English, shiruku suiito is pronounced “silk sweet.” These types of sweet potatoes are known for having silky, smooth skins and a balanced sweetness. They have a high water content, which makes them soft and fluffy after baking. Invented in 2010, shiruku suiito is one of the latest varieties.
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Kuikku Suiito: Pronounced “quick sweet,” this type gets its name from its short preparation time. It retains its flavors after cooking thanks to a special starch that breaks down with very little heating. It’s the perfect quick snack.
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Beni Haruka: Well-rounded, chewy, colorful, and delicious, this type of sweet potato has become quite popular since it was introduced in the late 2000s. It’s perfect for roasting and baking.
Culinary Uses of Sweet Potatoes in Japan
Satsuma-imo are used in a variety of Japanese dishes, from traditional sweets to savory dishes and modern culinary creations. The following are the most common culinary uses of the vegetable:
Imo-yokan: This is a gelatinous confection. It’s made by turning sweet potatoes into paste, allowing this paste to solidify, and cutting the confection into serving pieces. Imo-yokan is a delicious companion for green tea.
Tempura: Satsuma-imo is a popular ingredient in vegetable tempura. It’s sliced into small pieces, coated in an egg-flour mixture, and deep-fried until crispy. The dish is served with a savory dipping sauce.
Yaki-imo: This is baked Japanese sweet potatoes. It’s made by baking sweet potatoes with the skin on. With the removal of excess water, the natural sweetness of the tuber becomes more prominent. The baking process can be carried out on hot stones, in an oven, or over an open flame. Most people prefer the use of hot stones for their baked sweet potatoes.
Imo-kenpi: Similar to french fries, the sweet potatoes are cut into long strips, deep-fried, and coated with a caramel or sugar candy mixture. It’s great as a teatime snack.
Imo-jochu: This is basically sweet potato shochu, a distilled alcoholic beverage. The ingredients are fermented and then distilled to make spirits.
Nutritional Benefits of Japanese Sweet Potatoes
Satsuma-imo is not only sweet but also comes with a variety of important health benefits. They have a high fiber content, which aids proper digestion by preventing constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, and other gastrointestinal problems. The tuber also contains lots of healthy B vitamins and their compounds, such as niacin, thiamine, and pantothenic acid. It’s particularly high in vitamins B6, C, and E.
Eating Japanese sweet potatoes is ideal for people trying to lose weight. It contains only a few calories, is low in fat, and doesn’t contain cholesterol. Be sure to avoid fatty side dishes when eating them and stick to herbs and spices if you hope to lose weight.
By providing a good amount of carbohydrate, protein, vitamins, and minerals, these tubers make great additions to any balanced diet. They contain potassium for improved heart health, antioxidants for a better immune system, magnesium for managing blood pressure, and calcium for low blood pressure.
Comparing Japanese Sweet Potatoes to Other Varieties
Japanese sweet potatoes are different from other types. The first thing you might notice is the color of their skin, which tends to vary from reddish-purple to bright purple. Sweet potatoes from other countries, such as Beauregard, Garnet, Hannah, and Jewel potatoes, tend to have orange skin instead. Also, the flesh of satsuma-imo is pale yellow or whitish, while that of other varieties is often orange. The texture of the Japanese tubers also tends to be lighter and fluffier than that of orange sweet potatoes.
The Japanese sweet potato shares some similarities with American yams and Okinawan purple sweet potatoes in terms of appearance. However, it has a sweeter taste and softer flesh. It also contains more antioxidants.
Sweet Potatoes in Japanese Festivals and Seasonal Events
During the autumn harvest festivals that take place from September to November, sweet potatoes are made into snacks and used in the celebrations. Bakeries, confectionaries, cafes, restaurants, and street food stalls offer many menu items with sweet potatoes as the main ingredients.
In the new year, people in Japan eat kuri-kinton, a traditional dish made with sweet potatoes and chestnuts. Its golden color is seen as a symbol of wealth.
Different regions have their own unique sweet potato festivals and celebrations. In Tokyo, the Shinagawa Yakiimo Terrace takes place from late January to early February. During the event, different eateries and confectionery shops exhibit their new snacks and desserts.
Innovative Sweet Potato Snacks and Desserts in Japan
Japanese confectioneries display a great deal of creativity when it comes to modern sweet potato snacks and desserts. Due to the diverse nature of the tuber, these shops can boil, roast, puree, and bake Japanese sweet potatoes into a variety of goodies. The most common modern offerings are sweet potato ice cream, crispy chips, and cakes. They are providing innovative ways to enjoy Japanese sweet potatoes in countries all over the world.
Where to Find and Enjoy Sweet Potatoes in Japan
You can buy Japanese sweet potatoes in local Asian grocery stores, markets, and supermarkets. They’re pretty common in the autumn, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding them. For savory Japanese sweet potato recipes like tempura, we recommend that you visit a restaurant in major cities like Tokyo and Osaka. Local bakeries, confectionery shops, and street food stalls are more likely to sell sweet potato snacks, sweets, and desserts. If you’re in a hurry, you can get decent treats in supermarkets, convenience stores, and department stores.
Conclusion:
Everyone should explore the rich flavors and versatility of Japanese sweet potatoes. Whether you’re looking for a tasty treat, a home-cooked meal, or a gourmet dish, these root vegetables can produce all kinds of culinary delights.
Celebrate different seasons, festivals, and calendar milestones with a gift from Bokksu Boutique. By exploring our vast collection, you can find the perfect Japanese gift item for your loved ones.
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