Top 10 Award-Winning Potatoes from Around the World: :Featuring Greece’s Finest”

Recently, the Kato Nevrokopi potato was honoured as the best in the “Potatoes” category at the 2023-2024 Taste Awards, further cementing its place among the world’s finest. These unique varieties, cultivated in specific regions of Greece, are now receiving the international recognition they deserve for their superior taste and cultural significance.

1. Patata Kato Nevrokopiou – Kato Nevrokopi Municipality, Greece Rating: 4.5 About: Kato Nevrokopiou potatoes are one of Greece’s most prized varieties, cultivated in the Kato Nevrokopi basin and surrounding municipalities such as Kato Vrontos, Perithori, Dasoto, Lefkogia, Khrisokefalos, Okhiro, Vathitopos, and Katafitos.
2. Yukon Gold – Ontario, Canada Rating: 4.4 A versatile all-purpose potato with yellow skin and yellow flesh. Yukon Gold potatoes are known for their firm, moist texture and slightly waxy flesh, making them perfect for various dishes. Their characteristic yellow colour is a sign of their high nutritional value.
3. Papa Criolla – Colombia Rating: 4.4 Native to South America, specifically Colombia, Papa Criolla potatoes are small, golf ball-sized tubers with rich yellow to dark yellow flesh. This variety is particularly known for its high lutein and zeaxanthin content, which makes it both delicious and nutritious.
4. Patata Naxou – Naxos Island, Greece Rating: 4.4 Grown on the Greek island of Naxos, these potatoes come in varieties such as Liseta, Spunta, Marfona, Vivaldi, and Alaska. With smooth yellow skins and high starch content, these hand-harvested potatoes have a distinctive taste, contributing to their popularity in Greek cuisine.
5. Pataca de Galicia – Galicia, Spain Rating: 4.2 Grown in the Galicia region of Spain, Pataca de Galicia potatoes are of the Kennebec variety and thrive due to the area’s optimal soil and climate conditions. These potatoes are cherished for their rich flavour and excellent cooking properties.
6. French Fingerling – France Rating: 4.2 French Fingerling potatoes originate from France. They are small to medium-sized and cylindrical, with smooth, thin skin. Developed in the 1950s, this variety is well-regarded for its nutty flavour and waxy texture, perfect for roasting or boiling.
7. Idaho Potatoes – Idaho, United States of America Rating: 4.1 Known worldwide, Idaho produces more than 25 varieties of potatoes, including the popular Russet Burbank. With a wide range of textures and uses, Idaho potatoes are a staple in American kitchens, praised for their consistent quality and versatility.
8. Papa Púrpura – Peru Rating: 4.1 Papa Púrpura is a unique Peruvian purple potato with vibrant skin and flesh. When cooked, it turns bluish, adding colour to dishes. Its flavour resembles regular potatoes but has a slightly earthy undertone.
9. Lički Krumpir – Lika-Senj County, Croatia Rating: 4.0 Lički Krumpir potatoes are known for their high dry matter content, meaning they are packed with more starch, vitamins, and minerals. With yellow to brown skin and bright white flesh, these potatoes are perfect for dishes that require a fluffy texture.
10. Pomme de Terre de Noirmoutier – Vendée, France Rating: 4.0 Hailing from the Vendée region of France, these potatoes are known for their delicate yellow flesh and thin skin. They are often cooked in their skins for their mild, creamy flavour, making them a favourite in French cuisine.

Patata Kato Nevrokopiou – Kato Nevrokopi Municipality, Greece

These potatoes have been cultivated in the region since the 1920s and have gained popularity due to their exceptional quality. The unique microclimate of the area plays a crucial role in enhancing its flavour and texture. During the summer, daytime temperatures can reach 30-35°C, while they drop to 15-20°C at night.

This significant fluctuation in temperature promotes the production of starch, vitamins, and trace elements, which contribute to the potatoes’ rich and distinctive taste. The soil in the Kato Nevrokopi basin is sandy and slightly acidic, providing ideal growing conditions that enhance the potatoes’ unique flavour profile.

Varieties such as Spunta, Agria, and Lizeta are cultivated in this area using sustainable and integrated farming methods, making these potatoes not only delicious but also healthy. Additionally, the region’s high altitudes and the long winter months (with snow covering the ground for half the year) ensure the soil remains nutrient-rich. Since only one crop can be harvested annually (as opposed to double cropping seen in other potato-growing areas), the land remains fertile and does not deplete over time. Cultivation begins in April, and after August 15th, the potatoes are ready for harvest in September.

Due to the quality of the soil and the farmers’ expertise, Kato Nevrokopi potatoes consistently produce some of the best tubers in Greece, making them a favourite for both local consumption and export.

In 2002, Kato Nevrokopi potatoes were awarded Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, further solidifying their reputation as a premium product. This recognition ensures that only potatoes grown in the specific Kato Nevrokopi region can be labelled as such, guaranteeing their high standards. Greeks have known and appreciated these potatoes for years, but the time has come for the delicious Potatoes from Nevrokopi to become known worldwide.

According to the Chamber of Drama’s announcement, the Kato Nevrokopi Potato was voted first among many others from around the world in the Taste Awards 2024-2025 competition of the Taste Atlas Guide for the World’s Best Foods in the relevant category (Potatoes). This prestigious recognition has made Kato Nevrokopi potatoes a global phenomenon, cementing their status as one of the finest potato varieties in the world.

These potatoes stand out for their unique characteristics and flavour profiles, making them favourites among chefs and food enthusiasts worldwide. The Kato Nevrokopi and Patata Naxou varieties, in particular, continue to be symbols of Greek agricultural excellence and are now gaining global recognition thanks to their recent Taste Atlas awards.

Source: pagenews.gr