[Trivia Quiz for Seniors] Introducing fun facts questions about sweet potatoes!

Tokyo Metropolis

Imo yokan originated in Tokyo. Kochi Prefecture is famous for imo kenpi, and Kagoshima Prefecture ranks first in Japan for sweet potato cultivation.

sweet potato

Satsumaimo (sweet potato) is written as “薩摩芋” or “甘藷.” “薩摩芋” means a potato that came from Satsuma, while “甘藷” is a classical Chinese name given because it is harvested in autumn; in China, it was said to refer to the sweet potato.

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Freshly dug sweet potatoes are delicious, but if you store them for about 3–4 weeks, their starches convert to sugars and they become sweeter. Avoid moisture, wrap them in newspaper or similar, and store them in a cool, dark place.

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When sweet potatoes are heated slowly, their starch absorbs water and converts into sugars, which makes them taste sweeter. You might enjoy trying different cooking methods to find your favorite.

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Ishiyaki-imo is made by burying sweet potatoes among heated stones and cooking them with the stones’ heat. Even if it feels familiar, surprisingly few people have actually tried it. You can also make it with a Dutch oven, among other methods.

Mexico

Sweet potatoes originated in tropical America, mainly in Mexico. It is said that sweet potatoes were cultivated in the central Andes region.

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Potatoes belong to the genus Solanum in the nightshade family. Sweet potatoes are in the genus Ipomoea in the morning glory family. So, although both are called “imo,” they are classified differently.