Cilembu sweet potatoes are a specialty from Cilembu village and nearby areas (Pamulihan, Tanjungsari, Rancakalong and Sukasari) in Western Java, Indonesia. It grows best between 800 and 1000 m above sea level in areas with moderate rainfall. It is a native variety officially recognized by the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture in 2001. The sweet potatoes are long and round and weigh between 0.5 and 2 kg each. Potatoes are harvested five to seven month after planting. The color of its raw tuber?s flesh is reddish or light brown, and will change into a reddish-yellow color when baked. When baked, Cilembu sweet potatoes have a very distinct aroma and delicious sweet taste with a sugary, honey like glaze. The Cilembu sweet potato has been documented since 1914, when Indonesia was still colonialized by the Dutch Empire. It was formerly known as nirkum. Legend has it that this term was connected to the fact that Dutch people in Indonesia favored this type of sweet potato.
