Sweet potatoes produced in the area facing the Naruto Strait at the west end of Tokushima Prefecture are called Naruto-kintoki. When you split a Naruto-kintoki into two, you will find a vivid golden color. It is a local specialty with a robust sweet taste, and a soft and flaky chestnut-like texture that Tokushima is proud of.
Why is Naruto-kintoki so sweet? It’s because of the warm climate, minimal rainfall, and sandy soil containing plenty of sea minerals from the Naruto Strait. Maturing is also an important point. The flavor of Naruto-kintoki is enhanced with storage, and it is more delicious than right after it has been harvested. Unlike other vegetables, the sweetness is enhanced as moisture dissipates while being stored.
Salt and minerals make it delicious
We visited Demura Noen which focuses on storing Naruto-kintoki. It is located in Otsu-cho, Naruto City and has about 56,000 Naruto-kintoki plants on the 20,000 square meter farm. They store their Naruto-kintoki for about a month longer than other farBy allowing the sweet potatoes to mature that much longer, the starch changes to sugar, making it by far the sweetest and most delicious.
They also practice natural farming without the use of pesticides. We were told that salt and minerals are essential in making delicious sweet potatoes. They use organic fertilizer and fertilizer made of weathered coral, both of which are high in mineral content.
While Naruto-kintoki is available from summer to winter, it is especially delicious from around November to February. The potatoes sold during this period are harvested from September to November, and stored for two to three months, providing the best taste. In addition to the sweetness, Naruto-kintoki is also full of dietary fibers and vitamins. It offers beauty and health benefits as well.
