Looking for the best tasting heirloom sweet potato

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by bunkie

the purple color would give it more nutrition, antioxidents and all, i would think!

from my notes:

Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes are richly nutritious. They're fat-free and low in calories, high in fiber, great for diabetics and people who are carbohydrate sensitive, and loaded with antioxidants. Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes have been used medicinally in Japan for treating diabetes and other diseases. They are much lower on the glycemic index scale than white potatoes. That means that even carbohydrate-sensitive people and diabetics can include these good carbohydrates in their diets.
Antioxidants help to prevent diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. They boost immunity, are anti-inflammatory, and keep bones and skin healthy.
The most powerful antioxidants are phytochemicals. Anthocyanins are the phytochemical that give Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes their distinctive rich color. Anthocyanins are flavonoid compounds responsible for the beautiful bright purple flesh of Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes. Anthocyanins from sources such as blueberries and Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes have been shown to be powerful antioxidants, exhibiting greater antioxidant activity than either Vitamin C or Vitamin E. Studies show that Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes have 150% more anthocyanins than blueberries, that’s 2 1/2 times the punch per serving! Studies demonstrate that neither the anthocyanin content nor the antioxidant activity of the purple flesh was affected by common cooking methods. Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes pigments offer protection from cancer and other diseases!

And, dagnabit, I didn't save the source - I went searching for them after I bought some at an Asian market this summer - excellent nutritional profile, and most importantly - they taste great. Can't seem to upload a jpeg of them

edit: Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes is the same as Okinawan Sweet Potatoes

[Michelle8]

Thanks,Izzy. Now I want to try these. I'm all for great nutritional value with great taste!!

Now where can I purchase these for next year?

Michelle

[Michelle8]

Greenzone,

Will you have these purple sweet potatoes?

I'd like to purchase some of your plants this spring. But that's another thread or PM.

M

[bunkie]

thanks izzy for the info!

forgot...someone mentioned these people have them too...

http://www.mericlonelabs.com/

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by Michelle8

Thanks,Izzy. Now I want to try these. I'm all for great nutritional value with great taste!!

Now where can I purchase these for next year?

Michelle

Sandhill Preservation has them - but it is too late for my area, and there is always uncertaintly when ordering from them.

I discovered Mericlone Labs (see my earlier post in this thread) has them and they can be ordered year-round so that solves my problem being in the deep south.

If you take a look at the varieties offered at MLabs, there are many different Asian purple SP available - the Ok SP has a buff off-white skin and very deep purple flesh. Many of the others have purple skins with white or purple/white marbled flesh. The pictures help to clarify the differences.

Sorry, still can't upload my pics - get a message that file type is wrong = .jpeg & .jpg???

[GreenZone]

Originally Posted by Michelle8

Greenzone,

Will you have these purple sweet potatoes?

I'd like to purchase some of your plants this spring. But that's another thread or PM.

M

You have a PM...

[ceresone]

I'm only 40 miles south of B/C and I had a fabalous year for my sweets!! Course, it was the first year I've grown them, had them in a newly constructed raised bed--and built a fence around the bed!! really, it would have been better-if every sprout that made it thru the wire hadnt been nipped off clean. The side that spilled over into the chicken pen sprawled at least 8'.
I had about half huge, quarter medium--and a lot of little ones I'm hoping to use in the spring.
Now, to try the purple ones mentioned above.