Black Carrot Information

Black carrot is a legitimate member of the carrot family. Its cousins are the orange, yellow, red and white carrots. Black carrot has just about all the characteristics associated with the more common orange carrot save for pigmentation. Black carrot is black due to its high levels of anthocyanins which are considered the major bioactive compound in the carrot. Anthocyanins in black carrots are responsible for the dark or purple color of the carrot. The high levels of anthocyanins in black carrots offer some medicinal and non-medicinal benefits.

Introduction

There has been a curious rise in black carrots in recent years. There is a reason for this. Black carrot’s unique profile of anthocyanin pigments justifies the intense interest in this carrot variety. An article published in the journal Molecules describes anthocyanins as “polyphenol compounds that render various hues of pink, red, purple, and blue in flowers, vegetables, and fruits”.

According to the Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry “the total anthocyanin content in black carrots has been estimated as up to 350 mg per 100 g of edible carrot”. This is a very significant level of anthocyanin content in comparison to other carrot varieties. This makes black carrots very interesting to scientists.

Beyond this and more importantly, anthocyanins offer substantial human health benefits (see health benefits section), a fact which has attracted the scientific community not only to black carrots but also to other anthocyanin rich fruits and vegetables such as purple potatoes, purple tomatoes, red cabbage, beets and blue berries among others.

The black carrot, in a similar fashion as orange, red, yellow and white carrot is of genus Daucas. The actual botanic classification of carrots as published in Species Plantarum by Carl Linnaeus, is Daucus carota. In addition, the family name of the different carrot cultivars is Apiaceae or Umbelliferae.

This feature seeks to explore and explain the different aspects of this interesting root vegetable. It will discuss sources of black carrots seed, the origins of the carrot, its different cultivars and varieties, its health benefits, product and culinary applications.

Black vs Purple Carrot

Is there a difference between black carrot and purple carrot? Scientific evidence and literature references suggest an interchangeable use of black and purple in reference to the same carrot cultivar.

As mentioned earlier, anthocyanins are key to rendering the various hues that present as color in a fruit or vegetable. This occurs with different levels of intensity. An intense level of anthocyanins produces dark purple carrots which have a black appearance while a less intense level of anthocyanins produces purple (nearly pink) looking carrots.

The name black carrot thus essentially refers to dark purple carrots. In an interview, Shelby Ellison, an expert from the Department of Horticulture, UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in the US curiously identifies only four carrot varieties namely, orange, red, yellow, purple and white. Ellison’s list appears to group so-called black carrots together with purple carrots.

Furthermore, yet another expert piece published by DIY Network notes that “improvements in time have led to purple carrots that look very black in color”. We observe that these so-called improvements fundamentaly refer to special hybrids that have been developed with the aim of increasing the level of anthocyanins in the carrots.

The University of California Cooperative Extension notes that today the carrot exists in a “wide variety of colors — from white to red to almost black”. Calling it “almost black” aligns with the view that the carrot is not actually black but of a dark purple pigmentation. This, again, points to the understanding that black and purple carrots are one and the same cultivar, what differs is the intensity of the anthocyanin pigment.

Overall, what the east, for example India, refers to as black carrot is commonly known as purple carrot in the United States. The purple carrot may have arrived at a later time in North America having first been widely cultivated in the east.

Even so, according to Mansfeld’s Encyclopedia of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops (2001), there are two main groups of carrots. The eastern or anthocyanin carrot and the western or carotene carrot. The eastern carrot is scientifically identified as the Daucus carota L. ssp. sativus var. atrorubens Alef. It is purple in color and originated in the Afghanistan center of diversity.

The western carrot is identofied as Daucus carota ssp. sativus var. sativus and is orange in color and rich in carotene. It is common knowledge that orange carrots have been the most familiar carrot varieties in North America.

On the other hand, dark purple carrots are popular in the east. Ancient India is known to have widely cultivated so-called black carrots according to this article which appeared in The Hindu. Furthermore, in recent years new black carrot varieties have emerged in India such as the Punjab Black Beauty released in 2013 by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The root of this black carrot is described as purple-black. When cut open, the flesh of the carrot is deep purple in color.

Finally, in the United States, deep purple carrots have also been developed such as the Black Nebula and Purple Haze hybrids. In respect of the Purple Haze, the strongest purple pigmentation occurs when the carrot plant is grown at 15 to 20 degrees Celsius or 59 to 68°F. This is to say the depth of the purple pigment is determined by soil temperature.

All in all, evidence presented here shows that what is commonly referred to as black carrot is actually dark-purple carrot with an intense level of anthocyanins. Depending on the region, some prefer to call it black carrot while others simply call it purple carrot. Regardless, they are refering to the same vegetable cultivar.

Where to Find the Seeds

Commercial Seeds

Black carrot seeds can be purchased online or offline in gardening stores that stock specialty seeds. However, the availability of black carrot seed is often seasonal and may not be available throughout the year. When to get them becomes a matter of timing. The following are some black carrot seeds that can be purchased online.

Saving Black Carrot Seed

As an alternative to buying seeds, black carrot seed can also be obtained through seed saving. Seed saving is when the carrot is let to flower and produce seed which is then collected. There are two important points to keep in mind. It is highly recommended to save seed from heirloom varieties instead of hybrid carrot varieties. Second, in order to save carrot seed, the carrot plants must be allowed to grow uninterrupted over two seasons. They flower in the second season after winter.

We recommend our detailed section on saving seed under our White Carrot feature here.

How to Collect Black Carrot Seed (Video)

This video shows how to go about saving carrot seed. Although it speaks to carrots in general, the technique demonstrated equally applies when saving black carrot seed.

Origins of Black Carrot

In as much as the history of the carrot is not entirely straightforward, the black carrot is widely believed to have originated some 5000 years ago in present-day Afghanistan. The purple carrot is believed to be among the first carrots to be domesticated.

Out of the original purple carrot, new hybrids were developed from crossings with wild cultivars producing new varieties with varying core colors and flavors. Furthermore, it is believed that extensive trade expeditions propagated the black carrot and carrot in general all across the world from Afghanistan.

Black Carrot Varieties

There are several black carrot varieties available on the market today. These include heirlooms and hybrid varieties. More research continues to be directed at the development of hybrids with certain characteristics.

Punjab Black Beauty

Black Nebula Carrot

Black Knight Carrots

Purple Haze Carrot

Deep Purple Carrot

Purple Dragon Carrot

Black Carrot Health Benefits

Black or purple carrots are considered functional foods because they possess significant amount of bioactive compounds according to an article published in the Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. The black/purple carrot has certain confirmed health benefits primarily associated with a deep presence of anthocyanins and polyphenols.

According to a 2017 article which appeared in the journal Food and Nutrition Research, anthocyanins found in black carrot in such abundance are antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-obesity. Furthermore, they are associated with the prevention of certain cardiovascular diseases.

14 Black Carrot Health Benefits

The following is a summarized list of scientifically confirmed human health benefits linked to anthocyanins and polyphenols as found in black carrots.

Antidiabetic
Anticancer
Anti-inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Anti-obesity
Cardiovascular disease prevention
Anti-tumor
Decreased stroke risk
Improve visual and neurological health
Prevent metabolic disorders
Blood clots prevention
Blood sugar reduction
Promotes brain function
Improves digestion

Black Carrot Extracts

Black or purple carrots are also a source of anthocyanin pigment used in the food industry, for example. According to a scientific research published in the journal PLOS ONE anthocyanins as found in black carrots have the potential to replace toxic chemosynthetic pigments which have previously been used in food and cosmetics.

Anthocyanins are therefore a viable safe and natural coloring that is extracted from black carrots and used in dyes in different industries. Below is one example of food coloring extracted from black carrots.

Picture of Black Carrot Food Coloring Extract

Culinary Applications

The primary application of black carrots is human consumption. Black or purple carrots are cultivated in the majority of home gardens for this very purpose. Black or purple carrots can be eaten raw or cooked. Many varieties retain their purple color even when cooked. The taste and flavor will depend on the variety involved.

In addition, black carrot can be used in salads, stir-fries, shakes and juices. For example the Black Nebula carrot is known for producing stunning deep purple drink when juiced. If lemon juice is added it transforms to a bright pink color.

The following are some recipe ideas using black carrots.

Roasted Black Carrot Soup with Feta & Almonds – this recipe uses 4 black carrots. The carrots are roughly peeled and roasted before being blended together with other ingredients. Other ingredients for this recipe include a small onion, garlic cloves, olive oil and chilli flakes.

Roasted Purple Carrots with Black Sesame Dukkah – this recipe takes 40 minutes in total to make and uses 2 pounds of purple carrots. The carrots are cut in half lengthwise. Other ingredients include peeled garlic, fresh thyme and olive oil. The dish is served warm.

Purple Carrot Salad with an Almond Dressing – this is a vegan recipe which produces a side dish. The recipe requires 3 purple carrots, 1 tablespoon almond butter and some lemon juice among other ingredients.

Black Carrot Drink Recipe (Video)

This video shows how to make Kanji, a very popular Indian probiotic drink made using black carrots.

Conclusion

This feature has explained that black carrot essentially refers to purple carrots with a high level of anthocyanin pigmentation. The skin of black carrots is typically dark with the flesh and or core varying from deep purple, to even orange depending on the cultivar. Although black carrots are still available as heirlooms passed down generations, there are new hybrids being introduced to the market regularly. Black carrots are most sought after for their health benefits linked to high levels of anthocyanins. A range of scientific studies have since confirmed black and purple carrots as functional foods. Apart from health benefits, black carrots are also cultivated for the extraction of their pigment for use in food and other industries as safe dyes.

Recommended Read:

	Black Nabula Carrot Try Amazon Open-pollinated (heirloom) black carrot seed by Sustainable Seed Company out of the United States. The seeds are non-GMO and have a high germination rate. They are suitable for cultivation in all Zones in the US and are mature for harvest in 75 days.
	Black Night Carrot Try Amazon These are non-GMO F1 hybrid seeds harvested in China. They have dark purple pigmentation and are ready in 85 days. Some buyers have however reported struggling to have them germinate.
	Purple Haze Carrot West Coast Seeds Try Amazon This is a hybrid carrot and so are the seeds. It has a deep purple on the outside and bright orange inside. It is a non-GMO easy to grow variety which matures in 95 days.
	Deep Purple Carrot West Coast Seeds This is a hybrid dark purple carrot with an intense purple color running to the core of the carrot. The seeds are high yielding and mature for harvest in 75 days.
	Purple Dragon Try Amazon These are heirloom carrot seeds which produce purple-skinned carrots with deep orange flesh. Matures for harvest in 90 days.