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This came to me as a tweet - and apparently this variety is the original carrot and comes from Afghanistan. I've seen the ones in Pakistan - that are dark red - but had not come across these before.
Carrots originated in present day Afghanistan about 5000 years ago, probably originally as a purple or yellow root like those pictured here. Purple, white and yellow carrots were imported to southern Europe in the 14th century and were widely grown in Europe into the 17th Century. Purple and white carrots still grow wild in Afghanistan where they are used by some tribesmen to produce a strong alcoholic beverage. Over the ensuing centuries, orange carrots came to dominate and carrots of other colours were only preserved by growers in remote regions of the world.
Source: Carrot Museum
Purple carrots are to go on sale in Britain's supermarkets. But the move is nothing new, the carrot is in fact returning to its roots.
From as far back at the 10th Century, the crop grew purple in India, the Middle East and Europe, with its origins traced to Afghanistan.
Source: BBC
Carrots originated in present day Afghanistan about 5000 years ago, probably originally as a purple or yellow root like those pictured here. Purple, white and yellow carrots were imported to southern Europe in the 14th century and were widely grown in Europe into the 17th Century. Purple and white carrots still grow wild in Afghanistan where they are used by some tribesmen to produce a strong alcoholic beverage. Over the ensuing centuries, orange carrots came to dominate and carrots of other colours were only preserved by growers in remote regions of the world.
Source: Carrot Museum
Purple carrots are to go on sale in Britain's supermarkets. But the move is nothing new, the carrot is in fact returning to its roots.
From as far back at the 10th Century, the crop grew purple in India, the Middle East and Europe, with its origins traced to Afghanistan.
Source: BBC
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