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What is purple corn — and what are anthocyanins?
Why is purple corn purple?
Because of what’s in the kernel — not what’s done to it. Purple corn is a variety of corn whose kernels naturally build purple pigments in their outer layers. Grow it, and it comes out purple. The shade can vary a little from cob to cob and season to season — that’s normal for a natural pigment.
What are anthocyanins?
Anthocyanins are natural plant pigments from the flavonoid family — the same family of pigments found in berries. They’re behind many of the reds, purples and blues you see in plants. In purple corn, they sit in the kernel itself, which is why the colour is part of the corn, not a coating.
Is the colour artificial?
No. The purple colour comes naturally from pigments in the corn itself — it isn’t added as colouring. And to a common follow-up question: purple colour does not mean a corn has been genetically modified.
Is purple corn the same as purple waxy corn?
Not the same thing. Purple waxy (glutinous) corn is sticky and starchy. Ours is purple sweet corn — it eats like sweet corn: crisp and juicy, with a lighter sweetness.
How does our Purple compare within the Natural Fare range?
White is our sweetest, with a creamy taste. Pearl is crisp and balanced. Purple has a lighter sweetness and its naturally striking colour.
If you prefer a lighter sweetness — or simply love the colour — Purple is the one to try.
And it’s made the way everything we make is made: we grow the corn, process it in our own facility, and check each batch before release.
Common questions
Why is purple corn purple?
Its kernels naturally contain anthocyanins — plant pigments that create purple, red and blue colours. The colour grows with the corn — it isn't added.
Is the purple colour artificial?
No. The colour comes from naturally occurring pigments in the kernel itself — it isn't added as colouring.
What are anthocyanins?
Natural plant pigments from the flavonoid family — the same family behind many berry colours. They're pigments, not vitamins.
Is purple corn genetically modified?
The purple colour itself comes from naturally occurring pigments called anthocyanins. Purple colour does not mean a corn has been genetically modified.
Is purple corn the same as purple waxy corn?
No. Purple waxy (glutinous) corn is sticky and starchy. Natural Fare Purple is purple sweet corn — crisp, with a lighter sweetness.
Does purple corn taste different?
It eats like sweet corn — crisp and juicy — with a lighter sweetness than our White.
Does purple colour mean more sugar?
No. Colour comes from pigments, not sugar.
Sources & further reading: Frontiers in Plant Science — Anthocyanins in metabolites of purple corn (Cai et al., 2023) · Molecules — Anthocyanins in purple-pericarp sweetcorn (2023) · Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry — Anthocyanin profiling of maize grains (2020).