From when carrots were purple

Did you know that carrots they weren't always oranges? They were actually purple. The Dutch turned them into oranges in the XNUMXth century, after multiple crosses and experiments, in order to achieve the color of the Dutch royal house of Orange. And they succeeded, the result was a smoother and sweeter variety that spread throughout Europe. But before, they were purple. And today this is being resumed oriental variety, which is actually the original, along with other varieties of different colors. And all can grow in pot.

In Spain, some localities have always cultivated purple carrots, resisting the invasion of the Dutch orange. On Mallorca, it is not difficult to find them in the markets in season. And in Málaga, in Cuevas Bajas, the first Sunday of December is celebrated annually Morá Carrot Festival, a variety that, according to their history, they have cultivated since its introduction by the Arabs, with seeds from the Far East 13 centuries ago. The morá carrot from Cuevas Bajas is larger than the orange and its color is reminiscent of beets.

The carrot originates from Asia. The oldest known evidence of human consumption of carrots dates back to 3.000 BC in Afghanistan. Those carrots were purple on the outside and yellow on the inside. Initially, their stems and leaves were eaten. The root was first mentioned in classical sources in the first century. In Europe, there is evidence of its consumption from the eighth century, with descriptions of purple, red, and yellow varieties. It is even believed that the word "carrot" comes from Andalusian Arabic. Arab traders spread carrot seeds throughout Asia, Africa, and Arab countries, including Spain. Thus, varieties with different shades of purple, white, yellow, green, and even black emerged.

Nowadays it has become fashionable to re-cultivate colored carrots. In garden centers it is not difficult to find white, yellow, garnet and purple carrot seeds. They offer a variety of color, flavor and a fun touch to salads. Although to add fun, the invention of the Icelanders, who in 1997 developed a carrot with a chocolate flavor within the Wacky Veg program, aimed at children, but it was withdrawn eight months after its launch.

Related article:

Purple carrots, properties and benefits

More information -

If you are interested in learning more about how when to plant carrots and maximize your harvest, don't hesitate to check out our complete guide.

An important aspect to consider is the way in which you can plant carrots properly to ensure they grow healthy and strong. Also, if you want to grow in small spaces, you can visit this link about .

In short, the variety of purple and colored carrots is gaining popularity also for its beneficial properties. If you want to learn more about this, we invite you to read about the properties and benefits of carrots.

Related article:

How to plant carrots without seeds?

For more information on how to grow, you can check out our recommendations on how to plant carrots effectively.

So, if you are thinking of adding a touch of color to your vegetable or garden, now is the perfect time to experiment with these varieties of purple and colored carrots.

Related article:

Carrots properties and benefits