Black carrot
The fundamentals
Produces shades:
Latin name for alfalfa: Daucus carota
Pigment: Anthocyanins
E-number: E-163
5 facts about black carrot
Black carrot has the same botanical origin as the orange carrot. The color comes from anthocyanins.
Black carrot is believed to have originated in Afghanistan. Upon domestication about 1000 years ago, it spread both west and east along the Silk Road.
It has long been cultivated in the semi-arid area of the old Persian Empire, and has only been grown in western Europe and North America for several decades
Black carrot is an integral part of Turkish culture, traditionally used to color the confectionery Turkish delight and is a key ingredient in the Turkish fermented black carrot juice Salgum Suyu.
In order to harvest crops with high anthocyanin content, farmers practice active selection to gather seeds from the best plants. Otherwise the carrots would gradually lose anthocyanin concentration over time.
How black carrot is grown
Black carrots thrive in sandy soils with a hot growing season. They are dependent on moisture to fully develop the tubers.
They are sown directly in the fields in late spring and require about 6 months to accumulate a full load of anthocyanin content, with harvest beginning in November. The juice from black carrots destined for the natural food color industry is frozen until it can be made into natural color products.
Some of the best black carrots are stored until the next growing season, when they are re-planted to flower and produce seed for future crops.
Harvest calendar and growing areas
In the northern hemisphere, the sowing period is usually from April to May, with harvest beginning in November.
What you should know about anthocyanins from black carrot
Anthocyanins are water dispersible. Black carrot is the most-used anthocyanin for coloring foods due to its stability and cost effectiveness. It can replace Allure Red for red shades and grape anthocyanins for violet shades
Natural Strengths
Good heat and light stability
Performs well in acidic applications
Natural Challenges
Changes in pH cause shade shift
Sensitive to oxygen, metal ions and vitamins
