The popular Hokkaido pumpkins have also been grown in Germany for around 20 years. While the orange-red Hokkaido variety “Uchiki Kuri” (also known as “Red Kuri”) is almost exclusively available in supermarkets in this country, the Japanese pumpkin is available in many different colors in its homeland. In Japan, green and gray pumpkins are particularly popular, especially because of their sweeter taste.
Which Hokkaido varieties are there?
The most famous Hokkaido varieties are Uchiki Kuri (orange-red peel), Sunny Hokkaido (slightly larger and rounder), Kuri Kabocha (green Hokkaido), Blue Kuri (gray-green peel) and Snow Delite (grey peel). Green and gray varieties taste sweeter than orange-red ones.
The History of Hokkaido
In 1878, American agricultural scientists traveled to Japan, which had previously been very isolated. With them they had pumpkin seeds of the “Hubbard” variety, a giant pumpkin that is actually quite tasteless but huge. Until then, pumpkins were unknown in Japan, but the busy plant breeders on the Japanese island of Hokkaido immediately set about breeding “Hubbard”. This is how the small, extremely tasteful “Hokkaido” – which is actually called “Uchiko Kuri” – was created within about 100 years. The aromatic, new Japanese variety only began its worldwide triumph a few decades ago and initiated a true pumpkin revival. Until then, the vegetable had been despised for a long time.
The most famous Hokkaido varieties
- Uchiki Kuri (orange-red peel, orange flesh)
- Sunny Hokkaido (slightly larger and rounder than Uchiki Kuri)
- Kuri Kabocha (green Hokkaido, very popular in Japan)
- Blue Kuri (grey-green peel, brown flesh)
- Snow Delite (grey bowl)
Of gray and green Hokkaidos
In Germany we mainly know the orange to orange-red Hokkaido varieties, which taste nutty-sweet and whose aroma is reminiscent of chestnuts. So far, green and gray varieties have been particularly widespread in Japan, but are also gaining ground here. These usually taste sweeter than the versions we know. Green varieties such as Sweet Mama, Nutty Delicia or Meruhen are flatter and heavier than the red ones. They have a bright yellow flesh, while the grey-green variants (such as Snow Delite or Yukigeshou) have a more ocher to brown flesh.
Tips & Tricks
If you grow other winter squashes in your garden in addition to Hokkaido, make sure to strictly separate the individual varieties from each other. Hokkaido and other pumpkin varieties can interbreed, so be prepared for surprises when harvesting.
