Anthocyanins are what that give purple potatoes their color. Not just purple potatoes get
their color from this flavenoid, Petunias and Pansies and berries get their color from it as well!

Anthocyanins are antioxidant flavonoids, and some scientists have demonstrated a number of potential health benefits from ingesting Anthocyanins.
Red cabbage anthocyanins have been shown to protect animals against oxidative stress from
the toxin paraquat.

Additional animal studies* confirm that cyanidin is four times more powerful an antioxidant
than vitamin E.6

So keep eating these potato wonders, they're good looking and good for you1 A side note, steaming or microwaving are still the best way to hold that color and keep it bright.


* Rice-Evans CA. The relative antioxidant activities of plant-derived polyphenolic flavonoids. Free Radical Res 1995 Apr;22(4):3785-93.

They come from Peru (and maybe other South American countries, too). You could try a well-stocked farmer's market in your area, or specialty grocery stores. I'd call ahead first, though, because I don't think purple potatoes are too common in the U.S.

They're purple because of the natural pigments in the skin, just like some potatoes are red and others are brown. The purple ones are pretty cool looking, though.

They also have purple beans now. Not sure how much better they are for you but the color is interesting.

What is anthocyanin, so that their color purple potatoes. Not only get the purple potatoes
Their color from the flavenoid, petunia and pansy, and get their berries from which the color!

De Oro Farmer wrote on 08/28/10 at 22:30:44:


Exactly, the colour derives from the antioxidants

Quote:

great contribution

Where I live you cannot buy purple potatoes anywhere, they seem like a speciality vegetable.