Tanegashima Anno Sweet Potato (Kagoshima): season, origin and where to buy

Seasonal calendar

Available mainly from about September to December.

Timing shifts with the weather and conditions in each region.

Official registration details (MAFF)

The registered description as published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Characteristics

Compared to more common varieties of sweet potatoes sold fresh, Annou Imo is higher in sugar and lower in starch, meaning when cooked, Annou Imo becomes delightfully smooth in consistency and so sweet it oozes syrup.Annou Imo has been in high demand since sparking the popularity of "smooth and creamy" (as opposed to floury) cooked sweet potato. As a result, prices are 20-50% higher than common sweet potatoes sold fresh.

Link with the production area

The island of Tanegashima was the first place in the country where sweet potato production became established (in 1698). Tanegashima Annou Imo originates in a variety in production in the Annou district of Nishinoomote City since around 1947. The warm local climate, with little or no frost, provides ideal conditions for sweet potatoes to grow and be stored with minimized risk of chilling injury.

Characteristics and link with the area: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website (https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/intel/gi_act/register/s115.html)

Where to buy

As a rule, only products that meet the registered standard may use a GI name (with exceptions such as prior use). Check for the GI mark and the place of origin to tell it apart from ordinary products with similar names.

Buy from the producer group (opens in a new tab)Find on furusato nozei (opens in a new tab)Find online (opens in a new tab)

These links go to Japanese-language shops; check whether they ship overseas.

Some shop links on this page are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Anno sweet potatoes grown outside the island are also widely sold, so look for the "Tanegashima Anno Imo" label.

FAQ

A sweet potato grown on Tanegashima Island, Kagoshima. When cooked it becomes dense and creamy and so sweet that it oozes syrup, and it is credited with sparking the popularity of moist-style roasted sweet potatoes. Tanegashima is where sweet potato cultivation first took root in Japan.

Tanegashima Anno Sweet Potato is produced in Nishinoomote City, and Nakatane Town and Minamitane Town (Kumage County), Kagoshima Prefecture.

Tanegashima Anno Sweet Potato is in season (harvested or shipped) in Sep–Dec. Available mainly from about September to December.

Look for it via furusato nozei (hometown tax donation), online shops and the producer group's own shop. Check the GI mark and the place of origin before you buy.

Tanegashima Anno Sweet Potato was registered as a Geographical Indication on March 2, 2022 (Registration No. 115). The registered producer group is General Incorporated Association Annou Imo Brand Promotion Headquaters.