Currently, the purple variety of potatoes is not yet very common in Russia and is more exotic than an everyday product. On the contrary, in European countries this sort of “second bread” has been a common vegetable on store shelves for several years. So why should you buy purple potatoes, and how are they good for them?
Varieties, origin and distinctive features
World vegetable growing has known purple potatoes for many years, and several types of vegetables are so unusual for the Russian consumer mentality. These are the varieties "Vivalot", "Negritanka", "Chinese truffle", as well as blue French truffle potatoes. Within this variety, there are differences (shades, degrees of intensity of color outside and inside, as well as the shape of the tuber), but, at the same time, they are all united, thanks to purple, blue, lilac or lilac colors.
Modern breeders are still at a loss to name the exact place of origin of this vegetable, but most of them lean towards the South American version. The first mention of purple potatoes in European culture dates back to 1812, when the Vivalot variety was mentioned in French cookbooks.
It is known that already in 1817 it was one of the six most common types of this type of vegetables sold in Paris.
Anthocyanin gives the purple potato a peculiar color. The color of vegetables is also characteristic for their surface and for the pulp of tubers, and is also preserved during heat treatment of the product.
The average weight of one tuber is about 70 grams, and the length is about 8-10 centimeters.
Why purple potatoes are good for you
According to the latest scientific research, the consumption of purple potatoes is effective in lowering blood pressure in humans. Its participation in the diet can also reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. The beneficial effect on the human cardiovascular system is due to the presence of beneficial pigments in purple potatoes, in principle characteristic of fruits of this color.
This type of potato also contains quite a few different antioxidants - anthocyanins, carotenoids, phenolic acid. All of them help reduce the risk of chronic inflammation and heart ailments.
Proper preparation and storage of purple potatoes is also an important factor in maintaining the health benefits of purple potatoes. For example, the most optimal type of heat treatment is baking, after which the maximum amount of plant pigments and antioxidants enters the human body. It is in the oven that purple potatoes are best preserved in potassium and ascorbic acid, as well as valuable fiber.
