Carrots were originally purple — orange was a political choice
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Wild carrots and the earliest cultivated varieties were purple, white, or yellow. The orange carrot we know today was selectively bred in the Netherlands in the 17th century, likely as a tribute to William of Orange — the Dutch royal house. Orange carrots had existed before, but Dutch growers stabilized and promoted them, and they came to dominate European markets. In Asia, purple and yellow varieties remained common. The purple carrot is now experiencing a comeback in specialty produce.
The vegetable we assume is definitionally orange is actually purple by default, and the colour change is arguably a piece of political branding that became universally adopted.
The Science Behind It
Wild carrots and the earliest cultivated varieties were purple, white, or yellow. The orange carrot we know today was selectively bred in the Netherlands in the 17th century, likely as a tribute to William of Orange — the Dutch royal house. Orange carrots had existed before, but Dutch growers stabilized and promoted them, and they came to dominate European markets. In Asia, purple and yellow varieties remained common. The purple carrot is now experiencing a comeback in specialty produce.
Why Your Brain Finds This Hard to Believe
Sources & Verification
OddlyHuman Editors
VerifiedWritten and fact-checked by the OddlyHuman Behavioral Science Team. We verify all psychological, sociological, and historical claims against peer-reviewed journals, primary sources, and established encyclopedias to bring you accurate insights.
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