Another Superfood!​​ I first came across this vibrantly purple sweet potato​ in Hawaii, and I was delighted. It has rich flavor and it is packed with nutritional benefits.​ I thought that it was brought from Japan, but after a short research, I found out that it's actually native to South America, and was brought to Japan between 1492-1605. The Japanese island of Okinawa has one of the longest life expectancies in the world, as such, the traditional Okinawan diet is one of the healthiest​, and where this sweet creamy potato received its name (​Also known as beni imo​)​.  In later years, it arrived in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians, and became a staple of Hawaiian cuisine. In addition to many vitamins and minerals, the primary nutritional benefit, and the one for which Okinawan sweet potatoes are especially prized, is their high antioxidant known as anthocyanin, which is the pigment which is responsible for the brilliant purple color of the flesh. It is the same pigment that gives blueberries, red grapes and red cabbage their color.​ However, Okinawa sweet potatoes contain 150% more antioxidants than blueberries, which makes them a powerful cancer-fighting superfood.

The Okinawa sweet potatoes are not related to regular potatoes, which are a part of the nightshade family. Instead, like other sweet potatoes, they are a part of the morning glory family.  Okinawan sweet potatoes are often confused with purple yams, another tuber popular in Okinawa and throughout Southeast Asia. However, purple yams, while similar in appearance, are from a different family, and are endemic to Asia. To make matters more confusing, in Okinawa, both Okinawa potatoes and purple yams can be referred to as beni imo.​... And that's where I was confused when I looked for the rich purple one, and bought a bag of Okinawa purple potatoes, only to find out, disappointed, that their flesh inside was orange... ​ So now that I know where to get the deep purple flesh ones, ​they always put a fun spin at dinner events. They are wonderful boiled, steamed, ​fried, mashed ​or baked ​(They make very colorful plates ​alongside regular sweet potatoes​!)​ or any other way you’d use an orange or white potato​.​ So go get your Okinawa Potatoes, and make sure they are purple all over!