I am KONY, an “Shima Naicha”, (which means the people who moved from mainland Japan and lives in Okinawa) who loves Okinawa very much. It has been 10 years since we moved to Okinawa due to my husband’s job transfer.
Because Okinawa still retains a food culture that differs from that of mainland Japan, supermarkets and roadside stations are filled with unfamiliar and unheard-of vegetables such as loofahs, papayas, and water spinach! These vegetables are called “island vegetables” and are a part of the local food culture.
In this issue, we will introduce “beni-imo” (red potatoes) , an island vegetable that my children, who were born and raised in Okinawa, also love! We have also included recommended souvenir stores and special Okinawan souvenirs, so please be sure to check them out!
What kind of potatoes are “beni-imo” (red potatoes)?
“Beni-imo” (red potatoes) are, as the name suggests, “potatoes that are purple in color not only in the skin but also in the fruit. It is not only boiled and eaten as it is, but is also useful as an ingredient for snacks because of its strong sweetness.
Beni-imo (red potatoes) is one such island vegetable with a long history of supporting the diet of the Okinawan people since the days of the Ryukyu Dynasty. It contains anthocyanin, which is good for preventing eye strain, eye diseases, and lifestyle-related diseases, and is also an ingredient that is expected to have antioxidant properties.
Murasaki-imo (purple sweet potatoes) and beni-imo (red potatoes) are different foods
When you hear the word purple potato, many people probably think of murasaki-imo (purple sweet potatoes). However, they are two completely different kinds of potatoes!
Murasaki-imo (purple sweet potatoes): A kind of sweet potato belonging to the genus of sweet potato in the family convolvulaceae.
Beni-imo (red potatoes): belongs to the family of dioscoreaceae, family of dioscorea
There is also a difference in taste, with beni-imo (red potatoes) having a sweeter taste than murasaki-imo (purple sweet potatoes).
Murasaki-imo (purple sweet potatoes), and beni-imo (red potatoes), both look similar to sweet potatoes, but there is a big difference in their different characteristics as plants!
However, when I first moved to Okinawa, I myself wondered, “Are murasaki-imo (purple sweet potatoes) called beni-imo (red potatoes) in Okinawa?” I wondered. I remember being very surprised when I read the introduction of beni-imo (red potatoes) posted at a roadside station and learned that it was a different kind from murasaki imo (purple sweet potatoes). Island vegetables really are very interesting.
Raw beni-imo (red potatoes) are prohibited from being taken out of the prefecture!
The sweet and delicious beni-imo (red potatoes) has the special circumstance that raw sweet potatoes cannot be taken out of the prefecture.
The reason for this is because of legal restrictions due to pest problems.
In Okinawa and other areas such as Amami Oshima Island, there are parasitic pests on sweet potatoes, including red potatoes, but they are not easily detected from the outside, causing significant damage to the potatoes.
However, these are pests that are not found on the mainland. If they are taken out of the country, the pests may spread. Therefore, the law prohibits the raw Okinawan red potatoes from being taken out of the prefecture, preventing the spread of the pests.
Please be careful when purchasing raw red potatoes, as there is a “no carry out” sign at the airport as well.
If you want to buy sweets made from beni-imo (red potatoes), you should go to “Okashi Goten”!
Although beni-imo (red potatoes) are prohibited in their raw condition, there are no restrictions on taking them out if they have been processed into pastries or baked.
One of the stores that sell a variety of beni-imo (red potatoes) arranged souvenirs is “Okashi-Goten,” which is well known for its “original beni-imo (red potato) tart. There is a store at Naha Airport, and four other stores in the prefecture, including the Matsuo store on Kokusai-dori Avenue.
また、お菓子御殿はお土産を購入するだけのお店ではないことも魅力的なポイント。食事が楽しめたり、紅芋タルト作り体験や工場を見学できたり、恐竜に出会えたり・・・さまざまな体験ができる複合施設でもあるんです。
Another unique attraction of Okashi-Goten is that it is not just a place to buy souvenirs. It is also a complex facility where you can enjoy various experiences such as eating, making red potato tarts, touring the factory, meeting dinosaurs, and so on.
The best recommendation at Okashi-Goten is the beni-imo (red potato tart)!
One of the most popular sweets processed from red potatoes is the “Beni imo tart”(red potato tart). This popular pastry with a soft texture and the flavor of red potatoes is a well-known souvenir.
Beni-imo tarts are sold by various manufacturers in the prefecture, but the tart from Okashi-Goten is baked without preservatives or coloring and has won the Monde Selection Gold Medal! The tart dough is filled with red potatoes, so one tart is enough to satisfy your appetite.
Enjoy the Okinawan atmosphere with the brightly colorful beni-imo tart (red potato tart).
《Okashi Goten Yomitan Main Store》
Address: 657-1 Aza-Uza, Yomitanson, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Phone: 098-958-7333
Toll free: 0120-040-892
Business hours: 9:00 – 20:00 (sometimes 9:00 – 19:00 for shortened hours)
Closed: Open all year round
Parking: Available (50 cars, 5 buses)
Official website: https://ymc.yuuai.or.jp/
Access from Naha Airport
▶︎ By public transportation
Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes by bus
From Naha Bus Terminal, go to Yomitan Bus Terminal (about 2 hours). Then get off at Kawahira and walk for about 24 minutes.
▶︎ By car
Approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes via National Route 58.
Special Souvenirs: Beni-imo (Red Potatoes) Arrangements
Beni-imo tart (red potato tarts) are not the only snacks made from beni-imo (red potatoes)! Here are some other beni-imo (red potato) sweets that we can recommend as special treats.
Beni Imo Kit Kat
”Kit Kat” is popular for its combination of crispy wafers and milk chocolate.
In Okinawa, a beni-imo (red sweet potato) flavored Kit Kat is sold only in the Okinawa and Kyushu areas!
Kit Kat, with its gentle color and elegant flavor of beni-imo (red potatoes), is also a good choice as a souvenir.
Umukuji-Tempra
A traditional Okinawan snack made from red sweet potatoes is “umu-jiji tempura”. Umukuji is an Okinawan word meaning “sweet potato scraps” made from dried sweet potato starch. Umukuji Tempura is made by mixing such umukuji with beni-imo (red potatoes) and deep frying them in oil. It is a popular Okinawan dish not only for children but also for adults, as it is sticky and has a delicious rice cake-like texture!
Umu Kuji Tempura is sold at specialty Okinawan tempura stores, in the deli section of supermarkets, and at convenience stores. It has a unique and delicious chewy texture, so if you see it, be sure to try it!
Beni-imo Andagii
KONY’s favorite is the beni-imo (red potato) flavored sataa andagi! Not only can you taste the unique flavor of red potatoes, but the crispy outside and fluffy inside make it a perfect souvenir from Okinawa!
You can enjoy various flavors such as plain and brown sugar, so compare them and find your favorite!
Beni-imo (red potato) flavored Sataa Andagi mix is also available, so you can enjoy red sweet potato andagi even after you get home.
I remember being surprised to learn that it is actually a different variety of beni-imo (red potatoes), which I thought was the Okinawan name for murasaki-imo (purple sweet potatoes). Because of its limited distribution, it is not easy to find fresh beni-imo (red potatoes) in supermarkets even if you live in the Okinawa Prefecture.
However, you can easily buy beni-imo (red potatoes) snacks and souvenirs processed from them at airports and convenience stores. You may want to buy them as souvenirs because they are typical Okinawan sweets. It will be a memorable experience for you to compare and find your favorites during your stay in Okinawa.
Written by KONY
Translated by Rie
