The potato originated in the Andes mountains of South America, particularly in the region spanning modern-day Peru and Bolivia.

Geographic origin

Archaeological and botanical evidence shows that wild potatoes were first domesticated on the high plateaus around Lake Titicaca in the central Andes. This area, now part of southern Peru and western Bolivia, is considered the primary center of origin for the cultivated potato.

Early domestication and peoples

Indigenous Andean societies, including the ancestors of the Inca and Aymara peoples, began cultivating potatoes thousands of years ago. Over time they developed many varieties adapted to high-altitude conditions, making the potato a staple crop long before it spread to other continents.