Food · Staple foods
Beni Imo (Okinawan Purple Sweet Potato)
紅芋 (Beni imo)
Also known as: Okinawan purple yam, Chura-koi-beni (cultivar)
At a glance
| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| INCI name | Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract |
| Common Japanese notations | 紅芋, ベニイモ, ムラサキイモ |
| Origin | Plant-derived (Ipomoea batatas, Okinawan purple variety) |
| Typical functions | Anthocyanin pigment (heat-stable), Antioxidant |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Food ingredient and natural colorant; anthocyanin color approved under food additive framework. |
Beni imo is Okinawa's vivid-purple sweet potato variety with heat-stable anthocyanin pigmentation. Commercialized via the Yomitan Village One-Village-One-Product movement (Okashi Goten's 1986 Beni Imo Tart), it now anchors a broad confectionery, natural colorant, and functional food supply chain across Okinawa.
Classification
Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.
Product applications
Functions
Regulatory tags
Origin
Used in (typical product categories)
Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.
- Confectionery
- Baked goods
- Ice cream
- Natural food colorant
What it is
Ipomoea batatas Okinawan varieties have unusually high anthocyanin content (notably peonidin and cyanidin glycosides) relative to common sweet potatoes. The Chura-koi-beni cultivar is used by multiple specialist processors.
Commercial forms include paste, 50-mesh powder (1 kg B2B MOQ from Sweet Foods Kumejima), 10 kg bulk powder (Marine Bio 'Beni-Bijin Powder'), and intermediate-moisture flakes.
Typical uses in Japanese products
Confectionery: tarts, cakes, ice cream, and traditional Okinawan sweets.
Natural food colorant — heat-stable pigment for baked goods and beverages.
Functional food positioning around anthocyanin antioxidant content.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Food ingredient and anthocyanin natural colorant; permitted under the food additive framework.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| USA | Purple sweet potato color is approved for food use under FDA 21 CFR; verify with current color additive listings. |
|---|---|
| EU | Falls under anthocyanin E163 framework for color; food use permitted. |
| China | Verify current food additive listings for anthocyanin colors. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after verification. Always attribute '紅いもタルト' to Okashi Goten when referring to the historical product.
All brand names and product names referenced anywhere on this site are the property of their respective owners. Example entries are provided for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement.
Related ingredients
References
- Okashi Goten company history (One-Village-One-Product origin)
- JETRO Okinawa export product catalog
Last updated: 2026-04-23. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.