Yan Dian Sweet Potatoes

Yan Dian Sweet Potatoes

　　The cultivation of sweet potatoes in Wafangdian City has a history of over a hundred years, among which Yan Dian sweet potatoes are the most renowned. Due to the influence of climate and soil conditions, sweet potatoes from Yan Dian and surrounding towns are spindle-shaped, with red skin and yellow flesh, smooth outer surfaces, moderate size, no bumps or scars on the surface, and offer a delicate, sweet, and crisp taste, making them popular with consumers. They have been awarded the titles of Dalian Municipal Famous Product and Well-Known Trademark.

　　 Sweet potatoes are annual herbaceous plants of the Convolvulaceae family, rich in protein, starch, pectin, cellulose, amino acids, vitamins, and various minerals. Known as the "longevity food," they contain 15%–20% sugar. They are believed to have anti-cancer properties, protect the heart, prevent emphysema, diabetes, and aid in weight loss. Traditional Chinese medicine regards sweet potatoes as a beneficial remedy. Li Shizhen’s *Compendium of Materia Medica* from the Ming Dynasty recorded: “Sweet potatoes nourish deficiency, invigorate the spleen and appetite, and strengthen kidney yin,” adding that “people who eat them by the sea live long lives.”

　　After the reform and opening-up, Yan Dian sweet potatoes stepped out of the countryside and became a delicacy on urban dining tables. Merchants from all over our province, as well as from Shandong, Jilin, and Heilongjiang, came in search of them by reputation, promoting the development of the local sweet potato industry. Sweet potato cultivation has become one of the main industries for local farmers.