What's the difference between a chinese potato and an american potato?

April 6, 2009 1:17 AM

Ice Cream Filter: When in Taiwan a few years back, I enjoyed an ice cream that was described to me as "chinese potato." It was purple in color, and it tasted slightly sweet, but otherwise relatively benign. What the hell did I likely eat? (Googling brings up very nearly nothing.)
posted by disillusioned to food & drink (10 comments total)

Yam maybe?

Sweet potato?
posted by Xany at 1:17 AM on April 6

Taro!
posted by keep it under cover at 1:18 AM on April 6 [1 favorite has favorites]

It was probably sweet potato ice cream made with a purple-fleshed sweet potato. Here's an site that describes a "chinese potato" (scroll down for a pic of the purple flesh).
posted by amyms at 1:22 AM on April 6

Here's a pic of taro ice cream.

Does that look familiar to you?

It is indeed a member of the root family of veggies.
posted by keep it under cover at 1:22 AM on April 6

I bet it was Taro ice cream. Here's a little article on an ice cream shop in New York, but the author reminisces and tries to describe her Taiwanese taro ice cream experience.
posted by barnone at 1:24 AM on April 6

Taro for sure.
posted by querty at 1:30 AM on April 6

Wikipedia.

It's called 芋頭 (yù tóu/ㄩˋㄊㄡˊ) in Mandarin and, I believe, 芋仔 (ō·-á) in Taiwanese.

In Taiwan, Taro ice cream would be a literal translation from English: 芋頭冰淇淋

Taro Ice Cream
Taro soft-serve

Here's a recipe in Chinese and one in English.

You'll probably find Taiwan taro products to have a less sweet, “earthier” taste with the natural gritty mouth-feel preserved.
posted by Sangermaine at 1:33 AM on April 6

Hah, awesome. Yeah, that's it. Perfect.
posted by disillusioned at 1:34 AM on April 6

If you ever make it to San Francisco, they have a yummy ebu/taro ice cream at Mitchell's Ice Cream Shop as well as tons of other interesting flavors.
posted by bottlebrushtree at 7:25 PM on April 6

Follow-up: A frozen yogurt place just down the street from me HAS Taro, so I got to taste a reasonable approximation!

Thanks again, everyone!
posted by disillusioned at 5:07 PM on July 12