Medium-large, fingerling shaped tubers with purple skin and purple flesh, grown in Switzerland (Lac de Bret is a lake close to Vevey) and...Read More believed to be a 1920s sport of Négresse, aka Vitelotte Noire which was introduced into France in 1815 from Peru. Interesting suggestion for Négresse that may work with Violette: purple mash potato - by adding lots of butter it turns green (work 2 batches for bi-color mashed potatoes). Interesting note: this cultivar is NOT a Species: tuberosum, but Solanum ajanhuiri - you may find interesting the reading about the 7 cultivated Potato species by google for "reclassification of landrace populations of cultivated potatoes" - also I'm planning to grow the 3 similar cultivars Violette, Negresse and Ajanhuiri in 2009 for comparison. The picture above shows a small Negresse cutting that seams lighter in color compared to Violette Lac de Bret. The darker color matches with higher levels of antioxidants. Also I can't wait to be able to compare the taste - this year I had a good crop of Violette and noticed an earthy taste that reminds me of roasted chestnuts. Read more on the different ajanhuiri cultivars by googling the Kenosha Potato Project
Medium-large, fingerling shaped tubers with purple skin and purple flesh, grown in Switzerland (Lac de Bret is a lake close to Vevey) and...Read More