46 Purple Foods (with Pictures)

Purple foods can add a lot of bright colors to your diet.

Not to mention, purple foods generally have many health benefits including being high in antioxidants.

From purple sweet potatoes to beet juice, there are many different purple foods that you can eat.

So, if you want to add more purple-colored foods to your diet then look no further! We’ve compiled the list of purple foods listed in alphabetical order.

1. Acai Berries

The first food on our list is Acai Berries.

Fact: Acai berries have more antioxidants than blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries.

2. Baby Purple Artichokes

The second purple food on our list is baby purple Artichokes. 

Baby purple artichokes can be eaten raw, grilled, braised, or roasted.

These make a great addition to salads, pasta dishes, dips, and sauces.

3. Beetroot

Beetroot has a long, colorful history dating back to the 16th century and was first cultivated in Germany or Italy.

It also combines well with some ingredients to make salads, soups, stews, and gratins. You can even make chips or fries with it.

Fact: The ancient Greeks used beetroot for treating painful disorders such as headaches and toothaches.

4. Beet Greens

Beet greens are believed to be from the Mediterranean coast.

Beet greens can be consumed raw in salads or cooked like other leafy greens. They have a slightly sweet and earthy flavor that goes well with other strong-flavored ingredients.

5. Beet Juice

The next food on our list is a byproduct of the beet fruit—beet juice. 

So, if you’re looking for a health boost, try adding some beet juice-rich betalain to your diet. You can find it fresh or bottled at most grocery stores.

6. Cherries (Chelan Cherry)

Cherries are stone fruit native to eastern Europe and western Asia. 

They make great additions to pies, tarts, jams, or jellies.

Fun fact: Purple cherries are hardy types and thus have a long shelf life.

7. Concord Grapes

Grapes come in many different colors, including purple.

You can try concord grapes in a fruit salad or as a healthy snack. You can also make wine with them.

Fact: Grapes were one of the first fruits to be cultivated by humans.

8. Concord Grape Juice

Concord grape juice is a type of grape juice that is made from concord grapes.

Fact: Concord grapes juice helps in controlling blood sugar levels.

9. Eggplant

The next food—eggplant, has a dark purple hue. Eggplants are natives of Assam in the Indian subcontinent and the Burma region.

They also contain phytonutrients which have been shown to benefit your heart.

10. Elderberries

The elderberry is a small and juicy berry that can be found natively in Northern China and Northern Europe.

It also contains phosphorus, calcium, and potassium, in addition to iron.

Elderberries and elderflowers can be eaten raw or cooked. They taste great in pies, jams, muffins, and beverages like wine that is made from them.

11. Figs

Purple figs belong to the mulberry family. It is a native of Western Asia.

The fig’s slightly bitter taste makes it an excellent addition to any dish that needs some extra flavor, and its vitamins and minerals will keep you healthy.

Fact: Fig seeds are also edible.

12. Forbidden Rice

The next food on our list, Forbidden rice, turns purple when cooked. 

Forbidden rice has a nutty flavor and a chewy texture. It is a good source of protein, fiber, and iron.  It is also high in antioxidants. Try it in a rice pudding or as a replacement for plain white rice.

13. Kale

Kale plants are varieties of cabbage with green or purple leaves. The central leaves of a kale plant do not form a head, unlike a headed cabbage.

Fact: Purple kale is sometimes called “Redbor” kale.

14. Lavender

Lavender is a beautiful flowering plant that belongs to the mint family. It is available in nature in many different colors, including purple.

15. Mangosteen

The mangosteen is a tropical fruit that is native to Southeast Asia. The skin has light greenish-yellow tones and scattered pink spots to dark purple.

You could also use it to make jam and jelly ice cream. It is a good source of vitamins A, C, and B6. It also contains copper, manganese, potassium, and fiber. 

Fact: The mangosteen is the national fruit of Thailand.

16. Passion Fruit

Passion fruit is a long and elongated fruit from the tropical region of South America.

Fact: Passion fruit is the national fruit of Paraguay.

17. Plums (Damsons Plum)

The damson or “damascene” is a subspecies of the plum tree with an Asiatic origin. It was first grown in China.

They make great additions for pies and tarts or making plum wine.

Fact: Plums are a member of the rose family. 

18. Pluots (Dapple Dandy Pluot)

The purple pluot is a cross between an apricot and a plum. It has smooth, soft skin with sweet juicy flesh that’s great for eating on its own or in pies.

Fact: In 1989, a stone fruit called the “Pluot” was developed by Floyd Zaiger of Zaiger Genetics.

19. Pomegranates

The pomegranate is a fruit that’s native to Iran and its neighboring countries. 

Fun fact: Pomegranates have been cultivated for over 4,000 years.

20. Prunes

Prunes are a type of dried fruit with an oval shape.

Prunes can be consumed alone, as a snack, or used in recipes. They make a great addition to oatmeal, yogurt, or baked goods. You can also use them to make pudding, cake, salad, or pie.

Fact: Prunes are sometimes called “dried plums”.

21. Purple Asparagus

Purple asparagus is from the lily family. It is native to the Albenga region of Italy.

Fact: Asparagus is one of the oldest vegetables. It has been cultivated for over 2500 years.

22. Purple Barley

The barley grain is an heirloom variety, originally from Tibet. It has a dark purple hue and provides high levels of protein with a nutty flavor that’s chewy in texture.

Fact: It has more anthocyanin content than blueberries.

23. Purple Basil

Basil is a mint family member and native to India and other tropical Asian countries. 

You can use purple basil to make your cooking more flavorful and exciting. Depending on what you’re making, you can add it as an ingredient for sauces, stews, or salad dressings.

Fact: The word “basil” is taken from the Greek word for “royal.”

24. Purple Belgian Endive

Endive is a type of leafy green related to the chicory family. The scoop-like shape is white with reddish-purple tips and can be found natively in Netherlands or France.

Fact: Endive belongs to the daisy family. The word “endive” comes from the Latin word for “bitter.” 

25. Purple Bell Pepper

Purple pepper is a type of chili pepper that is native to South and Central America. They are edible fruits of the upright plant. 

Fact: The purple pepper is also known as the “Peruvian pepper.”

26. Purple Broccoli

Broccoli is a leafy green from the same family as cabbages. Broccolis are native to Asia Minor and other Mediterranean countries.

Fact: Broccoli was first cultivated in Northern Europe in the 18th century.

27. Purple Cabbage

Also known as red cabbage, this cruciferous vegetable is originally from the Mediterranean region of Europe. 

Interesting fact: Purple cabbage juice can be used as a natural food dye.

28. Purple Carrots

Purple Haze carrots are 5000 years old and hail from Iran or Afghanistan. They’re purple with an orange interior.

The best way to enjoy this fruit would be in salads or cole slaw; however, it loses its color when cooked.

Fact: Two more species of carrots are purple: Cosmic Purple (the same color as Purple Haze) and Black Nebula (dark purple color; retains it post-cooking).

29. Purple Carpet Creeping Thyme

Purple thyme is a type of herb native to North Africa and Europe.

It contains manganese and iron. You can add purple thyme to soups, stews, or pasta dishes. You may also use it to flavor meat or vegetables.

30. Purple Cauliflower

Our next pick is from the Northeastern Mediterranean region.

Just like its white counterpart, purple cauliflower can be eaten raw, roasted, grilled, or steamed. In addition, they combine well with other ingredients to make salads, rice dishes, pasta dishes, and soups.

Fact: There’s a type in Great Britain called purple cauliflower, which doesn’t fit any specific category because its leaves aren’t fully developed when green.

31. Purple Cayenne Pepper

This chili pepper comes from French Guiana and belongs to the capsicum family.

32. Purple Chokeberries

The chokeberry is a type of fruit native to North America.

Fact: The chokeberry is sometimes called the “Aronia berry”

33. Purple Corn

Purple corn is a variety of corn that has deep purple kernels. 

Fact: Purple corn is native to South America and was first cultivated by the Incas.

34. Purple Pod Pole Beans

Purple pod pole beans are a type of edible green from Peru.

Fact: Purple pod pole greens are sometimes called “Chinese amaranth.”

35. Purple Potatoes

Purple potatoes are native to the Andes region of South America and have been grown there for centuries. 

They can be mixed into salads, soups, stews, and gratins to make them taste better.

Fact: The purple potato is sometimes called the “Peruvian potato.”

36. Purple Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes come in many different colors, including purple. The purple sweet potato was first developed in Louisiana.

They make a great mix for soups, stews, and gratins. You can also use them to make chips or fries.

37. Purple Vienna Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi is a member of the brassica family, which includes broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, and is natively from Northern Europe. 

You can eat them raw, roasted, baked, or mashed. They make a great ingredient in salads, soups, riced, and pureed.

Fact: The word “kohlrabi” comes from the German words for cabbage (kohl) and turnip (rabi).

38. Purple Yam

Purple yam is a type of sweet potato originally from Southeast Asia.

Fact: The purple yam is also known as the “Japanese yam”, “Water yam”, and “Ube sweet potato.”

39. Purple Wheat

Wheat is a grain used to make bread, pasta, cereal, and many other foods.

Try purple wheat in bread, pasta, cereals, or as a healthy snack. You can also use it to add color and flavor to salads and soups.

Fact: Wheat is one of the oldest crops in the world. Humans first cultivated it over 10,000 years ago.

40. Radicchio

Radicchio is natively from Italy. It has a deep red or purple color with white veins running through it. 

Fact: “R” comes from the Italian word for “root” because the vegetable was traditionally grown in root cellars.

41. Raisins

Raisins are dried grapes. They can be made from various grape types, and different grapes create different flavors and textures in the raisins.

The earliest known mention of raisin grapes came from 2000 BCE, when they were grown in Persia and Egypt.

42. Red Dragon Fruit

The Red Dragon fruit is a medium-sized, oval, oblong-shaped citrus variety with small leaves and many venomous spikes. It is native to Central America and Southern Mexico.

You can eat it raw, grill or add this superfood to cocktails for an extra boost in nutrients or make salads.

Fact: The red dragon fruit is also known as the “strawberry pear.”

43. Red Leaf Lettuce

Red leaf lettuce, sometimes called “Purple Leaf Lettuce” is from Europe. It is a lettuce variety with light to deep purple leaves with red veins.

Fact: Red lettuce can grow as tall as 30 cm.

44. Red Onions

Red onions are originally from Tropea in Italy. Red onions are of a purple-red color, with white flesh and a hint of red. 

Fact: The skin of red onions can be used as a dye.

45. Star Apple

The star apple is a type of fruit that is native to tropical Southeast Asia. It is a deep purple fruit with the shape of stars on its seeds. 

Fact: The star apple is also known as the “caimito.”

46. Violets

Violets are a spice that has been enjoyed for centuries. Native to Asia and Europe, these flowers can be eaten raw or cooked in dishes. They can also be used to make violet tea.

Fact: The violet is the national flower of Slovenia and Greece. It is also the state flower of Illinois, Rhode Island, and New Jersey.