The sweet-potato vendor (along with the roasted-chestnut man) used to be a sure sign that cooler weather was coming to Hong Kong. Unfortunately, because of government crackdowns on hawkers, this type of street food is becoming hard to find.
What are they? As their name indicates, sweet potatoes are tubers (as are potatoes) with a sweet flavour. The colour of their flesh ranges from yellow to pale orange to red to deep purple and their size
is as varied.
What are the differences? Other than colour, the main difference is the taste. Some of the varieties are dry and starchy, with just a subtle sweet taste, while others are moist and deeply flavoured. The darker-fleshed varieties tend to be sweeter and more moist than the lighter ones, but there are exceptions.
When are they in season? They're mostly available during autumn and winter.
Where are they available? Fresh sweet potatoes are sold in supermarkets and by wet-market vendors. Choose firm specimens with no bruises. Chinese and Japanese snack shops sell sweet potatoes that have been candied into sticky, brightly coloured, chewy strips. Fried sweet-potato chips are sold cheaply in Indonesian shops and expensively in upmarket supermarkets.
