In family Solanaceae Juss. We present to you Solanum tuberosum. Spotlight on variety 'main group' Purple.

Purple Potatoes,

also known as blue potatoes, or Taewa, riwai to the Māori people of New Zealand, are a delicious and easy to grow starchy vegetable. They come in lots of different varieties (estimated at between 18and 50) however many are kept exclusive by the people who grow them making them unavailable to the general public. Despite this there are two varieties who's seed potatoes can be accessed with relative ease. Kowiniwini and Urenika, both of which we have grown in our garden over previous seasons, are both distinctively different from each other. Kowiniwini has deep purple and white blotchy skin and a firm creamy flesh while Urenika has a rich purple skin that can glint metallic and a flesh that can range from a mix of purple and white patterns to a solid colour that could make amethyst jealous. Kowiniwini tend to be somewhat rounded but with lots of bumps that vary in size while Urenika are long, thin potatoes more akin to a yam with indented eyes.

Kai = Food

When it comes to eating Taewa should be treated like the potatoes they are. Boil 'em, bake 'em, roast 'em, chip 'em, smash 'em. Some complain that when you try to mash them that they crush rather than smoosh but we find that with enough butter/milk and elbow grease they are a top notch mash to make any Leprechaun jig for joy. The purple potato tends to have a nuttier flavour than its relatives of other colours which is possibly derived from the anthocyanins responsible for the flesh colour.
We personally recommend you try them roasted with salt and fresh rosemary.
When harvested young their flesh is waxy, becoming more floury as they get larger.

History

Originally from South America purple potatoes would have arrived in New Zealand with the first Māori settlers. Current understanding is that the first arrivals came from East Polynesia in the late 13th century. These exploring Polynesians brought with them kūmara (sweet potatoes), Taewa and yams, which all grew well in the warmer climate of the North Island.

Cultivating

They prefer a cool and moist soil rich in organic matter but not too much nitrogen. As with all potatoes avoid growing them on the same ground as this can increase their chances of disease. Mainly rust and scab. Again as with all potatoes, it proves effective to mound the plants with dirt as they grow to increase yield and reduce greening of the tubers. This greening is linked to a build-up of a poisonous plant alkaloid called solanine. The greening, however, is caused by chlorophyll which is in itself is harmless and the build-up of solanine can occur without this tell tail sign. Despite this poisoning is rare and easy to avoid. Bitter potatoes should not be consumed and all other parts of the plant should never be consumed. The small potato 'berries' that grow on adult plants (looking like green cherry tomatoes) are particularly poisonous in much the same was as the deadly woody nightshade.

And now that we have had the tell. Here is some show.

All photos feature our homegrown Urenika variety.

1
Fresh from the ground.
2
Close up on the colour!
3
Cross section patterns.
4
Roasted with salt, homegrown Yams, Beetroot, White Spuds, and fresh Rosemary.
5

6
Venison Stew featuring the solid purple flesh Urenika.
7
Boiled with homegrown homemade Spicy Bean Burgers.
8
With a bottle and Beef Chilli.
9

10
One of our favourites. The mighty perfect purple mash.
11
Which can be had with many other sides. See here with venison steak and cream fried onions and carrots.
12
Or for breakfast with home chooked eggs.
Note: These potatoes do like to mingle and turn other foods all sorts of interesting colours. :)

Thanks for reading. We hope you learned something new or were reminded of something you forgot.
Below you can find links to sources of information gathered in preparing this blog.

Remember me hearties. Ye ARRR what ye eat! So eat well and be well. Kia ora. Kia kaha.

Sources:
About the plant.
http://www.vegetables.co.nz/vegetables-a-z/potatoes-purple-taewa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato#Blue_varieties
http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:821337-1

Cultivating
https://www.smartgardener.com/plants/7471-potato-potato/diseases/579-rust
http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/factsheets/Potato_Scab.htm
http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/outdoors/gardening/growing-purple-potatoes

Cooking
http://www.cooksinfo.com/urenika-potatoes
http://www.cooksinfo.com/kowiniwini-potatoes
http://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Purple_Potatoes_641.php

Health
'All potatoes are naturally high in potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. But the extra antioxidants in purple potatoes make them even more effective than other potato varieties.'
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/purple-potatoes-nutrition-2182.html

Seed Potatoes Online
https://www.countrytrading.co.nz/collections/seed-potatoes

History
https://teara.govt.nz/en/history/page-1
https://tewakakaiora.wordpress.com/2010/10/26/26-october-2010-2238/

Language
https://glosbe.com/mi/en/taewa