Naga-Imo

This mountain potato, also known as yama-imo, meaning long potato, still grows wild in Japan, as well as being cultivated. The shiny, snowy white flesh is very slippery, and it is for this quality that it is most appreciated. Naga-imo is available in winter from Japanese supermarkets.

Though naga-imo has little aroma, and has a bitter-sweet flavour, it is cherished by the Japanese for its rare, moist sticky texture.