Unraveling the Sweet Potato's Origins: Why It Became Taiwan's Spirit Crop

Excellent Eating Quality, the Ace of Sweet Potatoes: Tainung No. 57

The sweet potato, known in English as sweet potato, is the world's seventh-largest important food crop. It belongs to the Convolvulaceae family and is known in Taiwan by names such as sweet potato, sweet potato, sweet potato, sweet potato, red taro, yellow sweet potato, and white sweet potato. Among themTainung No. 57 has orange-yellow flesh and excellent eating quality, making it suitable for steaming or roasting. The sweet potato originated in tropical America and was introduced to China during the reign of the Wanli Emperor of the Ming dynasty, and was brought to Taiwan from Fujian in the 17th century. It prefers warmth and is easy to cultivate, growing well in all regions of Taiwan. Sweet potato production in Taiwan is concentrated in the autumn crop, with the main production areas in central and southern Taiwan, followed by the summer crop and spring crop. Sweet potatoes have a long history of cultivation in Taiwan and there are many varieties.