# Where can you buy oca (the root vegetable) in America?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-you-buy-oca-the-root-vegetable-in-america/522047>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 21, 2009, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-you-buy-oca-the-root-vegetable-in-america/522047 "2009-12-21T09:13:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-you-buy-oca-the-root-vegetable-in-america/522047/1 "2009-12-21T09:13:52Z")

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I was reading about [oca](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oca), which is a type of small potato that grows in the Andes Mountains. The description of it made it sound pretty good. It was described as “tasting like a baked potato with the sour cream already on it.” That sounds pretty good.

Unfortunately I can’t find any information about where to BUY the damn thing in the United States. (Indiana, for what it’s worth.) Does it have to be ordered and shipped in from Peru?

Anyone had it? Like it?

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**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-you-buy-oca-the-root-vegetable-in-america/522047/2 "2009-12-21T12:00:17Z")

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Generic answer, I’ll try to be specific on a later post  
Oca (Oxalis tuberosa) is really good, particularly when you let it in the sun for a couple of days, it brings the sweet out. Some PEruvian chefs have even used it for desserts.  
In Peru you can get it around June.  
You might try your luck in places where there are Peruvian expats: Patterson, NJ and of course Miami and L.A.

New Zealand is also a producer.  
.

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**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-you-buy-oca-the-root-vegetable-in-america/522047/3 "2009-12-21T23:34:38Z")

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Here’s a [website](http://www.melissas.com/Products/Products/Oca.aspx) (LA). Looks like it’s only available in July.