The carrot originated some 5000 years ago in middle Asia. The first carrots were purple, white, red and yellow – not orange! In the 16th century, a Dutch scientist developed an orange carrot in honor of its national color. Although most of the world now eats the orange carrot, the original carrot colors, like the purple carrot are making a comeback.

The purple color in these carrots comes from anthocyanin pigments (a type of antioxidant derived from plant pigments). When eaten raw, purple carrots do not differ much in taste from orange carrots.  However, when used in juice it is a different story…