Papa criolla is a potato variety that's native to South America and it's especially popular in Colombia. These tubers are small in size, similar to a golf ball. The flesh is yellow to dark yellow, an indication of high lutein and zeaxanthin content.

The Colombian papas criollas grow wild in the highlands of the Andes. The skin is thin and tender. These potatoes are often used in traditional dishes such as ajiaco soup, but they are also roasted, fries, boiled, mashed, or even skewered and grilled.

Papa púrpura are Peruvian purple potatoes. The skin and flesh have a deep purple color, and when cooked, the potatoes usually turn bluish. They're cooked just like regular potatoes and the flavor is also similar to regular potatoes, just with buttery notes.

It's recommended to roast them, add them to salads, or deep-fry them. In pre-Hispanic times, purple potatoes were usually reserved exclusively for the Inca Kings, and nowadays some chefs affectionately call them Gems of the Andes. Interestingly, they contain two to three times the antioxidants found in yellow or white potatoes.

Chuño is an unusual variety of Andean naturally freeze-dried potatoes. The name comes from a Quechua word ch'uñu, which can be literally translated as freeze-dried potatoes. The potatoes have a very long shelf life and are often used in dishes such as stews and soups.

Before consumption, the potatoes need to be soaked in water in order to rehydrate. There are two basic varieties of these potatoes – black and white. White chuños are soaked in cold water, then sun-dried, while the black variety is left to freeze overnight, and is then crushed in the morning in order to extract the liquid, but at night, it gets frozen again, so the process is repeated until the potatoes are totally dehydrated.

Papas andinas are varieties of potatoes indigenous to the Andean region of South America, where they’ve been cultivated since time immemorial. A combination of careful selection, unique growing conditions, and centuries of cultivation have contributed to a wide range of shapes, sizes, colors, textures, and flavors in these tubers.

The colorful tubers have long represented an essential source of nutrition for indigenous communities in the region, and they continue to enrich traditional dishes with their excellent properties. Apart from their fascinating diversity of flavor and appearance, papas andinas are also incredibly nutritious and versatile. 

Quebrada de Humahuaca is an area in the center of Jujuy province in Argentina, where local farmers grow native plants dating back to the time of the conquistadores such as kiwicha, quinoa, papa lisa, and oca. The farmers also grow corn, and most importantly – potatoes, which were first cultivated in the region 4,000 years ago.

Every generation used to cultivate their own potato variety, and families used to name the varieties after themselves. Some communities specialized in seed conservation, so the varieties multiplied and were refined over the years. However, a great number of potato varieties has been lost – almost half of the 70 previously registered varieties are gone today. 

Papa pastusa is a potato variety that's native to Colombia. These tubers have yellow or dark yellow skin without spots. The flesh is yellow in color, and the texture is soft and starchy. The potatoes are usually oval in shape, and when cooked, it easily becomes very tender, which is why it's used in a traditional soup called ajiaco.

These versatile potatoes are also often used to make french fries and mashed potatoes. They're grown in all the potato-growing regions in Colombia.

Papa negra, also called papa mariva, is a variety of potato from the Andean regions of Peru. The negra variety has a unique black skin color, slightly sweet flavor, and floury texture that differentiate it from more commonly known potato varieties in other parts of the world.

These potatoes can be used in various traditional Peruvian dishes or simply cooked and eaten in ways similar to other potato varieties.

Papa sabanera is a potato variety that's native to Colombia. These tubers have purple skin and they're a bit harder and bigger than other species. Sabaneras are most suitable for french fries because they absorb less fat and become more crunchy.

These potatoes are used in a traditional soup called ajiaco, but the sabaneras are also served as an accompaniment to asado grilled meat dishes, when they are usually steamed and seasoned with salt. Papa sabaneras are cultivated in rainy and cold climates, and in Colombia, they're predominantly grown in Cundinimarca, Boyacá, Tolima, Santander, Huila, and Magdalena.