The potato is a starchy root vegetable native to the Americas that is consumed as a staple food in many parts of the world. Potatoes are tubers of the plant Solanum tuberosum, a perennial in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Wild potato species can be found from the southern United States to southern Chile.
Potatoes originated in the region of modern-day Peru and Bolivia around 8,000 years ago. Evidence suggests that they were domesticated in the Andean highlands by the Inca civilization. These early potatoes were small, bitter, and could be toxic if not prepared correctly. The Inca used potatoes in various forms, from chuño (a freeze-dried potato) to culinary dishes. Potatoes were so important that they even had a god of potatoes, Axomama, celebrated in festivals.
When Spanish conquistadors arrived in Peru in the 16th century, they encountered potatoes and brought them back to Europe. Initially, potatoes were met with suspicion and resistance due to religious beliefs (some thought they caused leprosy because of their similarity to mandrake, which was associated with witchcraft) and because they were not mentioned in the Bible.
Over time, especially in regions like Ireland, Belgium, and Germany, potatoes became a critical crop due to their ability to grow in harsh climates, providing more calories per acre than grains. Today, there are thousands of potato varieties worldwide, bred for different climates, soil types, and culinary uses. This includes everything from the Russet Burbank, ideal for fries in North America, to the Maris Piper in the UK, known for its roasting qualities.
Potatoe Varieties
Russet Potatoes
- Characteristics: Often referred to as Idaho potatoes, they are the go-to for baking because of their high starch content which results in a light, fluffy texture.
- Origin: Developed in the 19th century in the United States, possibly through the selection and breeding of potatoes with desirable traits for baking and frying.
Yukon Gold Potatoes
- Characteristics: Thin, smooth yellow skin with yellow flesh. They are versatile, with a buttery flavor and medium starch content.
- Origin: Developed by Gary Johnston in the 1960s at the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph, Canada. The goal was to create a potato with the flavor of the yellow-fleshed South American varieties and the yield of North American white potatoes.
Red Bliss Potatoes
- Characteristics: Small to medium in size with red skin and white flesh. They are waxy and hold their shape well when cooked.
- Origin: Europe, but widely grown in North America.
Purple Majesty Potatoes
- Characteristics: Purple skin and flesh, high in antioxidants. They have a medium starch content.
- Origin: Developed by the Colorado-based company, PotatoPro.
Fingerling Potatoes
- Characteristics: Small, elongated with a knobby appearance. Their elongated shape and colorful skins (ranging from pink to purple to yellow).
- Origin: Originating in South America, particularly in the Andes, they were brought to Europe by explorers.
Sweet Potatoes
- Characteristics: Not technically potatoes but root vegetables, they have a high sugar content which caramelizes when cooked, giving them their characteristic sweetness.
- Origin: Native to Central and South America, sweet potatoes have been cultivated for thousands of years. The Okinawan sweet potato, known for its purple flesh, comes from Japan.
Kennebec Potatoes
- Characteristics: White flesh with a light tan skin, good for both baking and frying due to their versatility in starch content.
- Origin: Developed in Maine, USA in the 1940s by Presque Isle Station, Maine, specifically for chip-making due to their ability to fry well.
Charlotte Potatoes
- Characteristics: Small, yellow-fleshed with a firm texture. Ideal for salads due to their ability to hold shape.
- Origin: A relatively new variety, developed in France.
Adirondack Blue Potatoes
- Characteristics: Blue skin and flesh, very visually distinctive, and similar in cooking properties to Russets.
- Origin: Created in the late 20th century in the Adirondack region of New York, USA, by the Cornell University Potato Breeding Program to incorporate more color into the potato market..
La Ratte Potatoes
- Characteristics: Fingerling type with a creamy texture and nutty flavor.
- Origin: This heritage variety comes from France. It’s one of the most sought-after fingerling potatoes in gourmet cooking.
German Butterball Potatoes
- Characteristics: Yellow flesh with golden skin, noted for their buttery flavor and texture.
- Origin: Originally from Germany, this variety has been adapted for cultivation in the United States, where it’s appreciated for its taste rather than just its yield or disease resistance.
Carola Potatoes
- Characteristics: Yellow flesh and skin, known for its rich, buttery taste.
- Origin: Developed in Germany, Carola potatoes are part of the rich heritage of German potato varieties.
Irish Cobbler Potatoes
- Characteristics: An early maturing variety, with white skin and flesh, good for boiling and frying.
- Origin: Originating from Ireland, this variety was one of the first to be imported to North America. It’s considered one of the oldest American potato varieties, having been widely grown since the late 19th century.
Mauve Peruvian Potatoes
- Characteristics: These small potatoes have a vibrant purple skin contrasted by white flesh. They are known for their unique, slightly sweet flavor with earthy undertones.
- Origin: As their name suggests, they come from the highlands of Peru.
Chieftain Potatoes
- Characteristics: Chieftain potatoes have a beautiful deep red skin and white flesh, all-purpose potato with a slightly sweet taste.
- Origin: Developed in the USA.
Sangre Potatoes
- Characteristics: Similar to other red-fleshed potatoes, Sangre potatoes have a dark red interior and exterior
- Origin: Cultivated in the USA, Sangre potatoes were developed to meet the demand for potatoes.
Bintje Potatoes
- Characteristics: Bintje potatoes are long and oval with yellow skin and flesh, offering a fine texture when cooked.
- Origin: Bred in the Netherlands in 1910 by Kornelis Lieuwes de Vries, Bintje has become one of the most widely grown potatoes in Europe.
Katahdin Potatoes
- Characteristics: These potatoes are known for their smooth, brown skin and white flesh, with a mild flavor that doesn’t overpower other ingredients.
- Origin: Named after Mount Katahdin in Maine, USA, this variety was developed for its adaptability and long-term storage capabilities.
Norgold Russet Potatoes
- Characteristics: An early russet variety, Norgold Russets are smaller than standard russets, with the same starchy, baking-friendly traits.
- Origin:Developed in the United States, specifically for an earlier harvest than traditional russet varieties.
All Blue Potatoes
- Characteristics: Entirely blue, from skin to flesh, these potatoes are not only visually striking but also rich in antioxidants. They maintain their color when cooked and have a moist, slightly waxy texture.
- Origin: While they trace back to European varieties, All Blue potatoes have been developed and popular in the USA.
Cranberry Red Potatoes
- Characteristics: These potatoes have a cranberry-colored skin and the creamy, white flesh that becomes almost velvety when cooked. They have a slightly sweet flavor that can enhance the taste of many dishes.
- Origin: Developed in the United States, Cranberry Reds are part of the effort to introduce more colorful varieties into the potato market.
King Edward Potatoes
- Characteristics: White flesh with pink eyes, fluffy when cooked, excellent for roasting.The flavor is earthy and slightly sweet.
- Origin: This variety was developed in England in the early 20th century by John Henry King, who named it after King Edward VII.
Pink Fir Apple Potatoes
- Characteristics: These are a heritage variety with a unique, elongated shape with a knobby texture and a pink skin. They have a nutty, rich flavor, which is more pronounced than in many other potatoes.
- Origin: Originating from the United Kingdom, Pink Fir Apples are an old variety, with records of cultivation going back to the 19th century.
Sebago Potatoes
- Characteristics: Sebago potatoes are versatile, with white flesh and light brown skin. They have a medium to high starch content.
- Origin: Developed in Australia, the Sebago was bred in the 1920s to combine the best qualities of the American variety Green Mountain and the Irish Chieftain.
Viking Potatoes
- Characteristics: Viking potatoes have a deep, dark red skin which contrasts with their white flesh. They are notable for their flavor, which is richer and sweeter than many red-skinned varieties.
- Origin: Developed in the USA, Viking potatoes were introduced to bring more color variety and nutritional benefits to the potato market.