TYPES OF SWEET POTATO (Part 2)

SWEET POTATO (Impomea batatas) is tuberous crop from the morning glory family Convolvulaceae native to Tropical regions in America. In Malaysia are known as 'Keledek' and planted for domestic market. There are 2,890 hectare area planted with sweet potato in 2018 producing 45,370 metrik tons. Among popular variety grown in Malaysia are Keledek Bukit Naga, Keledek Ungu, Keledek Oren and few others. Sweet potato was believed to be domesticated in either South America or Central America. Sweet potato was domesticated in Central America 5,000 years ago. Sweet potato was found back 8000 BC in South America. It is a perennial crop which is cultivated as an annual in tropical and temperate areas for its edible starchy tuberous root. China is the world’s largest producer of sweet potato in which the most popular sweet potato are red, purple, brown, yellow-brown and white in color. Blog "Anim Agriculture Technology" write the types of sweet potato especially for orange flesh.

Types of sweet Potatoes

Few popular kinds of sweet potato which are known popular is USA or round the world are listed below. However there are many varieties of sweet potato recorded in different countries.  In the classification sweet potato are categorised by the flesh colour namely Orange Sweet Potato, Red Sweet Potato and White Sweet Potato.

(B) Red Sweet Potatoes Varieties

1. Amish Red Sweet Potatoes
The Amish red sweet potato used for making potato salads. It is found in middle season which have orange flesh and red skin (No picture available for this varieties). This is a rare variety of sweet potato. This variety are not grown in Malaysia for long. The amish red sweet potato rich of many vitamins and minerals.

2. Continental Red Sweet Potatoes

Continental red has pinkish to red and pale skin. The flesh is creamy light orange. The picture available for this varieties showing that the reddish colour of the skin and whole sweet potatoes. I never try to cook and eat this variety due not grown in Malaysia. This sweet potato are rich in vitamin, minerals and antioxidants.

3. Carolina Ruby Sweet Potatoes

Carolina Ruby sweet potato has deep red-purple color with a smooth skin. The meat is sweet which has deep orange moist with a tasty flesh. This variety was not found in Malaysia,  but I manage to visit a sweet potato farm in Indonesia claiming for growing this variety.

4. Dianne Sweet Potatoes

Dianne variety has reddish skin and dark orange flesh. This is considered rare sweet potato grown in the origin state. However, there are potential for fresh consumption and also for processing for food.

5. Garnet Sweet Potatoes

The Garnet is also called red yam. It is very moist and has succulent, orange to yellow flesh. The skin is light red to purplish. It is a foot in length. Ony certain area grown this varoaty for domestic consumption and food processing. I am not familiar with this variety.

6. Georgia Jet Sweet Potatoes

Jets has deep orange flesh which is moist and possess a nice flavor. The outer skin is red to nearly purple ad reported this variety ar rich of vitamin and minerals. This variety are not found to be grown in Malaysia. May be in future this variety are good for plant breeding study.

7. Cordner’s Red Sweet Potatoes

It is a bush type plant with orange moist flesh and deep purple red skin. It is suitable in a garden with small space. This variety are not grown in Malaysia. May be research has been going on for this variety for tropical climate trial in Malaysia soon. I never come across with this sweet potato variety during my visit to foreign country previously. To consume sweet potato for health, balanced and delicious methods to add sweet potato in your diet because of Low Fat Mashed Sweet Potatoes that mashed sweet potatoes could be enjoyed with orange juice, brown sugar, spiced, ginger and cinnamon. Second is easy Low-Fat Baked Sweet Potato Fries. The fried baked sweet potatoes helps to lower the fat than usual fried. This recipe should be tried by those who want to have healthy fried baked sweet potato. Thrid is the spicy Braised Sweet Potatoes. The sweet potatoes could be seasoned with cayenne and paprika which should be simmered on the top of the stove. Fourth the Chicken Pot Pie with Sweet Potato Crust in which the chicken pot pie should be tried with some twist. The sweet potato crust has a orange color which is nutritious. Fifth is he Low Fat Sweet Potato and Apple Soup in which the sweet potatoes are complemented by the apples properly by making it spiced slightly and low fat soup. Thanks.

This article divided in 3 segments namely Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 respectively.

By,
M Anim,
Room 824, Thistle Hotel,
Johor Bahru, Johor,
Malaysia.
July 2020.

Updated on 11 October 2022.