{"id":7267,"date":"2026-05-19T20:17:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T03:17:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/21-of-the-best-japanese-asian-eggplant-varieties\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T20:17:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T03:17:13","slug":"21-of-the-best-japanese-asian-eggplant-varieties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/21-of-the-best-japanese-asian-eggplant-varieties\/","title":{"rendered":"21 of the Best Japanese (Asian) Eggplant Varieties"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Japanese eggplants have long, slender fruit, with thin skins and few seeds.<\/p>\n

The mild, delicately flavored flesh is less bitter than some of the varieties you would typically find in the grocery store.<\/p>\n

Some like to distinguish \u201cJapanese eggplant\u201d as a separate category of \u201cAsian eggplant,\u201d but quite often the two terms are used interchangeably to refer to the long, slender, thin-skinned varieties.<\/p>\n

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We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links,\u00a0<\/em>we may earn a commission<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Many growers refer simply to \u201cAsian type\u201d eggplants when describing these \u2013 and I\u2019m going to follow their example throughout this article.<\/p>\n

Eggplants are members of the nightshade family<\/strong><\/a>, which includes tomatoes<\/strong><\/a>, peppers<\/strong><\/a>, and potatoes<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Along with their distinctive shape and flavor, many of these varieties are early-maturing, bearing fruit just two months after transplanting.<\/p>\n

And in general, these plants tend to be vigorous, growing up to four feet tall, and high-yielding \u2013 making them very attractive for the home gardener.<\/p>\n

Our guide to growing eggplant<\/a><\/strong> has all you need to get started if you haven\u2019t cultivated them before.<\/p>\n

In this article I\u2019ll be looking at 21 different Asian eggplant varieties \u2013 some of which are Japanese, some of which are Chinese, some Indian, and some bred in the US.<\/p>\n

Before we get started on our world tour, here\u2019s an overview of what I\u2019ll cover:<\/p>\n

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21 of the Best Asian Eggplant Varieties<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

Asian eggplant with dark purple to black skin colors tend to originate primarily in Japan.<\/p>\n

Typically from China, the bright purple varieties are just as tender and tasty as the dark purple ones.<\/p>\n

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The pastel, pink and lavender cultivars of Asian-type eggplants are worth trying \u2013 if for nothing other than their enchanting colors.<\/p>\n

Green eggplants are popular throughout Asia, where they seem to be just as widespread as purple varieties.<\/p>\n

1. Bangladeshi Long<\/h2>\n

\u2018Bangladeshi Long\u2019 is a prolific heirloom that is native to Bangladesh.<\/p>\n

Its eight-inch-long, slightly curved fruits are striking \u2013 they have a grayish green color with purple streaks.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Felicia Lim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

These thin-skinned veggies are never bitter and have a delicious, mild flavor.<\/p>\n

They are perfect for use in Indian-inspired cuisine, such as this spicy eggplant curry recipe that you can find on our sister site, Foodal<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The large, sturdy plants of \u2018Bangladeshi Long\u2019 reach 48 inches tall, and bear fruit 75 to 80 days after transplanting.<\/p>\n

2. Black Egg<\/h2>\n

This Japanese heirloom variety produces round, egg-shaped fruits that are dark purple, almost black in color, with a black calyx.<\/p>\n

Tender, four- to five-inch-long fruit with a mild, sweet flavor grow on compact, vigorous plants that mature to just three feet tall.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Black Egg\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Ideal for container growing<\/a><\/strong>, \u2018Black Egg\u2019 matures in 60 to 65 days.<\/p>\n

You can find seeds for \u2018Black Egg\u2019 in a variety of packet sizes at Eden Brothers<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

3. Choryoku<\/h2>\n

\u2018Choryoku\u2019 is a Japanese hybrid. The 12-inch-long fruit have bright green skins and a green calyx.<\/p>\n

The fruits grow long and straight with a firm texture, and they are sweet and tasty \u2013 perfect for broiling or grilling.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Choryoku\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Growing on vigorous, prolific plants, \u2018Choryoku\u2019 will mature in 80 days.<\/p>\n

\u2018Choryoku\u2019 seeds are available from True Leaf Market<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

4. Fengyuan Purple<\/h2>\n

An heirloom open-pollinated variety from Taiwan, \u2018Fengyuan Purple\u2019 is a rare cultivar.<\/p>\n

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The long, slender, cylindrical fruits can grow up to 12 inches long, and are bright purple with a purple calyx.<\/p>\n

The flesh is creamy white, free from bitter compounds, and the skin is thin and delicate.<\/p>\n

An early maturing variety, \u2018Fengyuan Purple\u2019 can be harvested after just 65 days.<\/p>\n

5. Finger Fruit<\/h2>\n

\u2018Finger Fruit,\u2019 also known as \u2018Little Finger,\u2019 is an heirloom cultivar that produces petite, dark purple eggplants that grow on green stems.<\/p>\n

The glossy purple fruits of this open-pollinated variety grow in clusters and have blunt ends.<\/p>\n

They can be harvested when they are just three to six inches long \u2013 starting 60 days after transplanting.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Little Finger\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

These tiny, slim eggplants are tender, with thin skin and few seeds. The flesh has a mildly sweet flavor.<\/p>\n

\u2018Finger Fruit\u2019 seeds are available in packets of various sizes from High Mowing Organic Seeds<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

6. Green Knight<\/h2>\n

A hybrid variety, \u2018Green Knight\u2019 bears green-skinned fruit that reach seven to 10 inches long. They are mild in flavor, with few seeds and a meaty texture.<\/p>\n

An early-maturing variety, you\u2019ll be harvesting the succulent fruit from these 34- to 36-inch plants in just 55 to 60 days.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Green Knight\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

You can find packets of 30 seeds, or bundles of three \u2018Green Knight\u2019 plants, available at Burpee<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

7. Hari<\/h2>\n

An Indian hybrid, \u2018Hari\u2019 has waxy green, thin skin and grows from green stems.<\/p>\n

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Fruits reach seven to 10 inches long, and have tender flesh with a mild flavor and no hint of bitterness.<\/p>\n

An ultra-early maturing variety, \u2018Hari\u2019 will be ready to harvest in just 50 days.<\/p>\n

8. Ichiban<\/h2>\n

\u2018Ichiban\u2019 is a Japanese hybrid that loves hot weather, but will also thrive in cooler climates \u2013 and it bears fruit all the way through to the first autumn frost.<\/p>\n

Its name means \u201cbest\u201d in Japanese, and many gardeners agree that this is at the top of their Asian eggplant list!<\/p>\n

\u2018Ichiban\u2019 produces slim, purplish-black, 10-inch-long fruits on purple stems.<\/p>\n

The fruits have thin skins with a delicate, sweet, and mild flavor, and a succulent texture.<\/p>\n

Plants grow in an upright form, reaching three to four feet tall, and two to three feet wide at maturity.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Ichiban\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

They perform well in containers, and they are prolific and very early, bearing fruit just 50 to 60 days after transplanting \u2013 with 12 fruits per plant, on average.<\/p>\n

You can find \u2018Ichiban\u2019 plants in four-inch pots from Bonnie Plants via Home Depot<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

9. Japanese Pickling<\/h2>\n

The longest Asian eggplant among my selection, the fruits of \u2018Japanese Pickling\u2019 can reach an astonishing 22 to 26 inches in length!<\/p>\n

Bright to dark purple in color, these are long, thin, and slightly curved \u2013 measuring just 2 inches in diameter.<\/p>\n

\u2018Japanese Pickling\u2019 eggplant are sweet and mellow tasting with creamy, meaty flesh \u2013 and as their name suggests, they lend themselves perfectly to pickling.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Japanese Pickling\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

A mid-season cultivar, \u2018Japanese Pickling\u2019 has a good germination rate, and comes to maturity 75 to 85 days from transplanting.<\/p>\n

You can find seeds in a variety of packet sizes available from True Leaf Market<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

10. Kurume Long<\/h2>\n

Hailing from the city of Kurume in Japan\u2019s Fukuoka Prefecture, \u2018Kurume Long\u2019 is an open-pollinated cultivar that bears shiny, nine- to 10-inch-long black fruit on black stems.<\/p>\n

The mild, delicate fruits of \u2018Kurume Long\u2019 are excellent for making tempura or for pickling.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Kurume Long\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

This cultivar is vigorous and matures very early \u2013 just 60 days from transplanting.<\/p>\n

\u2018Kurume Long\u2019 seeds are available in a variety of packet sizes from True Leaf Market<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

11. Long Asian<\/h2>\n

With long purple fruits that have a sweet, succulent taste with no hint of bitterness, \u2018Long Asian\u2019 is an open-pollinated variety.<\/p>\n

\u2018Long Asian\u2019 bears tender and delicious fruit that grow to eight to 10 inches long.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Long Asian\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018Long Asian\u2019 fruits will be ready to harvest \u2013 and throw on the grill \u2013 about 60 days after transplanting.<\/p>\n

You can find seeds in a variety of packet sizes available from Eden Brothers<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

12. Machiaw<\/h2>\n

\u2018Machiaw\u2019 is a hybrid variety that bears pale purple to deep pink fruit.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Machiaw\u2019 was one of the winners for best Asian type eggplant in Purdue University\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> 2008 Eggplant Variety Trial in central Missouri.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n