Hira-boshi and Maru-boshi

Hira-boshi (flat-dried)

Steamed sweet potato sliced to around a centimeter and dried. It's the form you'll see distributed most widely. The balance between the surface and the inside makes it easy to eat, and it's an approachable first choice.

Maru-boshi (whole-dried)

Small sweet potatoes dried whole, without slicing. The extra thickness takes longer to dry and tends to yield a moist, dense, richly chewy inside. Quantities are often limited, and it has a devoted following among hoshiimo fans.

Kaku-giri and more

Kaku-giri, cut into sticks before drying, is tidy to hold and easy to eat. You may also find 'wake-ari' (imperfect) pieces — off-spec in shape or size — sold for enjoying at home.

Which to choose comes down to preference. If you're unsure, try telling Hoshimori-kun how you'll use it and what you like.