Exploring Purple Fruits: 14 Varieties to Discover
Purple fruits derive their color from anthocyanins, natural pigments that provide striking hues and potential health benefits. Anthocyanins are known to have anti-inflammatory properties. Incorporate these beautiful and flavorful foods into your diet — and grow them in your home garden!
The most familiar purple fruits include grapes, blackberries, blueberries, plums, and figs. These fruits are not only delicious but also versatile in the kitchen. They can be eaten raw as a snack, added to smoothies, or incorporated into salads, desserts, and baked goods.
Purple Fruits To Eat & Grow
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Growing your purple fruits is not only a fun and rewarding experience but also a great way to ensure that you are eating fresh, locally-grown produce. Many varieties of purple fruits are easy to grow, even in small spaces.
For example, blueberries can be grown in containers on a balcony or patio, while grapes can be trained to grow over a trellis or arbor. Incorporating more purple fruits into your diet is a simple and delicious way to add variety and color to your plate. So why not try growing some in your own garden or picking up some at your local farmers market?
Purple Grapes
Purple grapes are versatile in the kitchen, perfect for snacking or enhancing a variety of dishes. They can be roasted for sweetness, added to salads or pizzas, or simmered into sauces and glazes for savory dishes. Additionally, they’re ideal for making jams, jellies, and wine, offering rich flavor to any recipe.
Growing grapes is both practical and rewarding for home gardeners. With minimal effort, grapevines can thrive in a sunny spot with well-drained soil, requiring little maintenance beyond occasional pruning. They’re an accessible addition to any garden, providing delicious fruit for you and your family to enjoy.
Blackberries
Blackberries are known for their sweet-tart flavor and juicy texture, making them a delightful addition to any dish. Whether eaten fresh, tossed in salads, or baked into desserts, their rich taste adds depth and sweetness.
Growing blackberries is straightforward for home gardeners. Plant them in a sunny spot with well-drained soil and provide support for the vines to climb. With minimal care and occasional pruning, you’ll enjoy a plentiful harvest of delicious berries throughout the growing season.
Blackcurrants
Black currants offer a unique blend of sweet and tangy flavors, with a hint of earthiness that sets them apart from other berries. They’re perfect for making jams, jellies, and sauces, adding depth to desserts, or infusing into beverages for a refreshing twist.
Growing black currants is relatively simple for home gardeners. Plant them in a sunny to partially shaded location with well-drained soil. They’re hardy plants that can tolerate various conditions but prefer slightly acidic soil. With regular watering and occasional pruning, you’ll be rewarded with a bumper crop of flavorful berries perfect for enjoying fresh or preserving for later use.
Blueberries
Blueberries are known for their sweet and refreshing taste, making them a delicious addition to various dishes. Their juicy texture and vibrant flavor enhance any recipe, whether enjoyed fresh, added to breakfast cereals, or baked into goods.
Growing blueberries is relatively straightforward. Plant them in a sunny spot with acidic, well-drained soil. Blueberries thrive in slightly acidic conditions, so consider amending your soil if needed. Regular watering and mulching for moisture retention will reward you with a plentiful harvest of delicious berries throughout the growing season. Remember to protect your crop from birds, as they’re also fond of these tasty treats!
Black Olives
Black olives have a briny and savory taste, adding depth to salads, pizzas, and pasta dishes. Whether sliced into salads or used as a flavorful topping, their distinctive flavor enhances various recipes.
Growing black olives can be challenging for home gardeners due to olive trees’ specific climate requirements. Olive trees thrive in warm, Mediterranean-like climates with well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight. My family grows olive oil in Croatia, and we have the fruit pressed into the most amazing extra virgin olive oil.
Purple Figs
Purple figs offer a sweet and luscious taste with a hint of honey-like flavor, making them a delightful addition to both sweet and savory dishes. Whether enjoyed fresh, grilled, or baked into desserts, their soft and succulent flesh adds a touch of luxury to any meal.
Growing purple figs is relatively easy in warmer climates. This is another plant that grows like a weed in my home country. Figs thrive in Mediterranean-like conditions, so ensure they receive plenty of sunlight and water during dry spells.
In colder climates, figs can be grown in pots and brought indoors for the winter. Look for varieties bred for this, like Chicago figs.
Purple Plums
With various varieties offering different taste profiles from sour to richly sweet, plums can be enjoyed fresh, incorporated into salads, or baked into pies and jams; their versatile nature makes them a favorite in the kitchen.
Growing plums can be a rewarding experience for home gardeners living in regions with appropriate climates. When planting plum trees, choose a sunny location with well-draining soil and enough space for their roots to spread. Regular pruning is crucial to promote healthy growth and fruitful production. You can enjoy a bountiful harvest of delicious plums from your garden with proper care.
Acai Berries
These dark purple berries are prized for their antioxidant properties and potential health benefits, making them a favorite among health-conscious consumers.
While acai berries are native to the Amazon rainforest and thrive in tropical climates, they can be challenging to grow outside of their natural habitat. However, if you live in a warm, subtropical region with high humidity, you may be able to cultivate them in your backyard with proper care.
Elderberries
Elderberries offer a unique blend of tartness and sweetness, with a flavor reminiscent of blackberries but slightly more robust. These dark purple berries are toxic if consumed raw but are commonly used in jams, jellies, syrups, and wines due to their rich flavor and high antioxidant content.
Growing elderberries is relatively straightforward for home gardeners, as they are hardy shrubs that tolerate various soil conditions. Plant elderberry bushes in a sunny to partially shaded location with well-drained soil.
Passion Fruit
Passion fruit combines sweet and tart tropical flavors. The juicy pulp, filled with crunchy seeds, is perfect for scooping straight from the fruit or incorporating it into smoothies, desserts, and cocktails.
While passion fruit vines can be somewhat finicky to grow, they thrive in warm, tropical climates with well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight.
Chokeberries
While they’re not typically eaten raw due to their sour taste, chokeberries can be enjoyed in various ways, like jams, sauces, and jellies. They’re also packed with antioxidants. When it comes to growing chokeberries, they’re relatively low-maintenance plants. Plant them in well-drained soil in a sunny spot, water them regularly, and watch them flourish.
Purple Mangosteen
Mangosteen is a tropical fruit with creamy-white and juicy flesh. It offers a lovely balance of sweetness and subtle hints of citrus and peach. Mangosteen is typically enjoyed fresh or in smoothies and fruit salads, but its juicy flesh can also be used in various recipes for jams and jellies.
Growing mangosteen trees is challenging outside of tropical climates.
Jabuticaba
Jabuticaba, also known as the Brazilian grape tree, is a unique fruit native to Brazil that is appreciated for its distinctive appearance and flavor. Unlike most fruits, jabuticaba grows directly on the trunk and branches of the tree, resembling clusters of small, dark purple berries.
The fruit has a thick, tough skin and a sweet, juicy pulp with a flavor reminiscent of grapes but with subtle notes of tropical berries. It can be eaten fresh or used to make jams, jellies, wines, and liqueurs, showcasing its versatility in culinary applications.
Growing jabuticaba trees can be rewarding but requires specific conditions to thrive. They prefer tropical or subtropical climates with well-drained, acidic soil and regular rainfall.
Sloe Berry
Sloe berries, the fruit of the blackthorn bush, are small blue-black berries with a tart and astringent flavor. Due to their sour taste, these berries are not typically eaten fresh, but they are commonly used to make sloe gin, jams, syrups, and other preserves.
When fully ripe, sloe berries develop a sweeter taste and are often harvested after the first frost. They are then used to infuse alcohol or make homemade liqueurs, giving them a unique and complex flavor profile. Sloe berries are also prized for their high pectin content, making them ideal for jams and jellies.
Growing blackthorn bushes, the shrubs that produce sloe berries, is relatively straightforward. They prefer well-drained soil and full sunlight, and they can tolerate various soil types.
Purple Vegetables to Eat & Grow
Check out my list of purple vegetables — I’m growing a few on this list this year!
Purple fruits and vegetables are beautiful and there are many interesting varieties to explore.
Recipes With Purple Foods
Ideas and recipes to enjoy your antioxidant-rich fruits & veggies.
