It is known in Brazil as Japanese pumpkin, in Japan it is called Kabocha. Quite sweet, it combines the flavors of sweet potato and pumpkin. There are reports that pumpkin cultivation began with the North American Indians more than 8 thousand years ago, before beans and corn. The Portuguese introduced pumpkin to Japan from Cambodia in 1517.

It is quite hard, can withstand travel time, and is very versatile in cooking, being used in soups, sweets, purees or roasts.