Kumara

Kumara - a sweet potato native to New Zealand, but most likely originating in South America. It was taken to NZ by the Polynesians from across the Pacific around 600 years ago. Initially these were very small tubers, but once the colonials arrived in NZ and began selective breeding, they became the fat sweet potatoes we are familiar with today. Very rich in taste with purple skins (although there are now varieties that have orange and golden-yellow flesh).