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Carrots used to be purple?

  • Writer: Samyuktha
    Samyuktha
  • Apr 27
  • 1 min read

Carrots, the orange vitamin filled vegetable that was rumoured to help you see in the dark, was originally purple.  

 

Carrots were originally purple, not orange. The first cultivated carrots were purple; they were found in the Persian Plateau area (it was found across parts of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan) in the 10th century. The purple carrots have high levels of anthocyanin (an antioxidant), which is very good for your heart and blood vessels.

 

 The reason why carrots are orange was because of selective breeding from farmers (particularly in the Netherlands) which was sweeter and more appealing with the orange colour. Parts of folklore suggest that it was bred for the Dutch royal family (the house of Orange), but the Food Literacy Center suggests that it is more likely that they were bred for their sweetness and visual appeal.

 

 

Purple carrots are having a resurgence of popularity due to their appearance, health/nutrition benefits and an interest in having a diverse vegetable variety and many more. You can buy these carrots at:

 

And 

 

 


Did you know:


  • Purple carrots have a more peppery flavour and woody texture


  • Carrots come in many different colours including purple, red, yellow, orange, and white


  • Since purple carrots have many antioxidants, they have numerous healthy benefits that may include improved memory, enhanced vision, protection against heart attacks and anti-inflammatory effects. 


  • Purple carrots cost (from new grocer in SG) S$15.99 per 1kg of a whole carrot

 

So, what is your favourite colour of carrot?

 

 
 
 

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