Here is a list of foods that are blue, read more to find out. This article examines why this is the case and what colored foods might be consumed to combat the blues.
As you might already know, it might be difficult to incorporate blue into your diet. Approximately 3% of the normal American diet consists of blue and purple foods.
Why Are Blue Foods So Scarce?
The lack of blue fruits and vegetables is a result of the biochemistry within plants.
The green pigment chlorophyll relies on absorbing blue light in order to absorb the sun’s rays and produce nourishment. The pigments that seem blue reflect these wavelengths, so hindering the plant’s ability to generate energy.
However, blue pigments may be found in nature, typically used to attract attention on fruits and flowers. The blue hue is a result of certain anthocyanins with powerful antioxidant effects.
In addition, multiple studies have linked a diet rich in anthocyanins to a healthy heart, stable blood pressure, and even a reduced risk of depression.
List of 20 Blue Foods
Blueberries
When you think of blue foods, blueberries are probably the first thing that comes to mind. This purple-blue berry is a popular ingredient in cheesecakes, pies, and other desserts.
Blueberries are frequently used in jellies, jams, muffins, and even nutritious morning cereals. Blueberries are rich in vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C and potassium, and are a fantastic source of fiber for maintaining a healthy digestive tract.
Blue Cheddar
Blue cheese variations, which sometimes vie for the title of “King of Cheeses,” are obviously an acquired taste. The blue veins and dots on these cheeses are produced during the cheesemaking process by cultivating the mold Penicillium. Roquefort, Gorgonzola, and Stilton are the most popular blue cheeses because they are pungent, salty, and sharp.
However, with over 40 kinds to select from, there are milder ones, and blue cheese enthusiasts are confident that you will find one that you enjoy. Blue cheese can be spread on toast or used to pasta recipes in crumbled or melted form.
Blue Adirondack Potatoes
This blue potato variety is the result of selective breeding, and Cornell University introduced it in 2013. The skin and flesh are a mixture of blue and purple tones. The color of these blue potatoes might be lost when they are boiled, but they can be used in all the regular potato meals.
When fried or baked, they keep their blue color and bring diversity to the dish. Due to the large quantity of antioxidants they carry, these potatoes are called a “superfood.”
Blue Crab
Native to the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico is the blue crab, often known as the Atlantic blue crab or the Chesapeake blue crab. Its shell has a hue between blue and olive green, and its claws are a brilliant blue. It is smaller than other crab species, but its last pair of legs have been particularly developed into enormous paddles, making it a powerful swimmer!
The blue crab is a significant culinary and commercial product of the United States, particularly Louisiana, which is home to the world’s biggest blue crab fishery. The delicious, delicate flesh is well worth the effort required to break through the shell!
Blue Corn
This kind of blue maize is also known as Hopi maize, Yoeme Blue, Tarahumara Maiz Azul, and Rio Grande Blue. Blue maize is a popular ingredient in traditional Southwestern foods such as piki bread, tlacoyo, tortillas, and cereal, lending these foods their distinctive blue tint.
Blue corn kernels have more antioxidants than their yellow counterparts, which helps protect against cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Blue Curacao
This typical cocktail component is a blue-colored liqueur flavored with orange peel that has been dried and ground. The oranges used for flavour are Laraha oranges, which are indigenous to the Caribbean island of Curaçao. This famous tropical liqueur was not initially blue until a Dutch manufacturer added the food coloring Brilliant Blue; since then, the blue hue has been its defining characteristic.
This beverage is on our list of blue foods, but its blue colour does not confer any health advantages, therefore it should be used in moderation.
Borage
Due to the remarkable star-shape of its springtime blossoms, this Mediterranean flower is also known as starflower. While most borage plant blossoms are blue, some might be pink. In addition to providing vibrant color to your meal, the blossom has a cucumber-like flavor, making it an ideal addition to salads and garnishes.
Starflowers have also been used in desserts, cocktails, and even ice cubes to provide a luxurious touch to refreshing cold drinks. Commercially, borage seeds are employed in the preparation of Frankfurt’s grüne Soße, Italy’s Pansoti, and Poland’s and Russia’s pickled cucumber condiments.
Historically, the seeds, leaves, and flowers of the plant have been utilized as a herbal remedy. It is believed to alleviate asthma symptoms and includes high quantities of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is essential for skin health. However, some of the chemicals in borage are metabolized by the liver, thus it should be avoided by anyone with liver disorders, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers.
Brilliant Blue FCF (Blue 1)
If your favorite blue food is not on this list, it is possible that it is tinted with this artificial dye. Brilliant Blue is one of the earliest food colorings allowed by the FDA since it is typically non-toxic and safe. It is widely found in processed foods such as canned peas, cotton candy, and ice cream, as well as in pharmaceuticals for children, dietary supplements, and cosmetics.
While consumption of Brilliant Blue at typical levels has not been linked to any adverse health consequences, it does not provide any of the antioxidant advantages found in other blue foods.
Blue Tomato
The tomato plant kinds that produce blue and purple fruit have been intentionally selected to boost the nutritional value of this ubiquitous food. They produce blue tomatoes with high quantities of anthocyanins, which gives the fruit its blue tint.
Blue tomatoes have a somewhat acidic flavor and can be consumed fresh, cooked with other ingredients, used to produce sauces, or blended into a nutritious juice.
There are now a variety of blue tomato varieties, including Azul blue, Bosque, and Indigo Rose. The higher the number of anthocyanins and the better the health advantages, the darker the skin!
Flowering Peas
This beautiful blue blossom, also known as the Asian Pigeonwings plant, is often used across Southeast Asia to produce a colorful tea that may be drunk hot or cold and is frequently blended with lemon or dried lemongrass. It is also utilized in the preparation of Eurasian putugal, in which the blossom is used to impart color to glutinous rice and pastries.
In Northeast Malaysia, it is an essential component in the azure-colored nasi kerabu rice dish. Flowers are battered and fried in Myanmar and Thailand to produce a delightful snack.
Butterfly pea flower tea is a traditional medicine in regions of the world where it grows naturally, and it is said to alleviate stress, improve your mood, and even have anti-aging qualities.
Damson Plums
Damson plums are tiny, ovoid fruits with a distinct sour flavor. Depending on the variety, the skin color of this plum ranges from dark blue to indigo to nearly black. In South and Southeast Asia, this plum is commonly referred to as Jamblang. The damson name is derived from and most frequently used to British versions.
Damson plums are utilized for culinary applications such as fruit preservation and jam-making. They are rich in vitamin C, and their dark blue skin is loaded with anthocyanins, which gives them antioxidant characteristics
Elderberries
This violet-blue fruit becomes crimson when diluted with water. Elderberries are also utilized as an FDA-approved coloring agent and, depending on the cultivation method, can be certified as organic foods. These little berries are also an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and iron, and have long been considered to have therapeutic properties for the treatment of minor ailments such as the common cold, constipation, and others.
Anciently, Hippocrates, the legendary “Father of Medicine,” referred to the elder tree as his “medicine chest.”
The Concord Grape
This grape was named for the Massachusetts municipality where it was created. Sometimes, the black skin of Concord grapes is coated with a light waxy “bloom” that may be removed by rubbing. Concord grapes, like other grape varietals, can be used to make table grapes, juice, and wine. Specifically, Concord grapes are typically used to make ceremonial kosher wine.
These blue fruits are a wonderful source of antioxidants that can aid in skin, brain, and heart protection.
Haskap
This species of blue berries is also known as blue honeysuckle, sweetberry honeysuckle, fly honeysuckle, blue-berried honeysuckle, and honeyberry. The plant is indigenous to frigid regions such as Canada, Japan, and Russia.
This blue fruit has a rectangular form that distinguishes it from other berries, and when it is mature, it is a good source of vitamin C. Similar to other berries, haskap may be used in baked goods, jams, juices, ice cream, yogurt, and more.
Indigo Milk Cap
This interestingly hued fungus is native to the regions of Northeastern America, East Asia, Central America, and a portion of Southern France. The hue of the mushroom is dark blue while it is young and fades to a light blue-gray as it ages.
When the flesh of the blue mushroom is sliced, blue or indigo-colored milk flows out, which gradually becomes green when exposed to air. Although the fungus is edible, its flavor is characterized as bitter or peppery, and it is typically consumed for its novelty rather than its flavor.
It has a high concentration of beneficial saturated fatty acids, especially stearic acid, and has a coarse grain texture. The blue milk produced by the mushroom can be used to color marinades.
Silver Quandong
In India, the Silver Quandong or Blue Marble tree is revered. This tree’s fruit has a vivid blue exterior and a green inside. You can consume it uncooked, or you can remove the meat and combine it with water to create a paste for traditional medicine. In certain locations, the fruit was reportedly utilized as a therapy for epilepsy. The seed contained within the fruit is historically used to construct necklaces and even rosaries.
Pansy
Pansies are a common garden flower that is cultivated in purple, white, yellow, and blue variations. The name is derived from the French word pensée, which means mind. Therefore, throughout history, pansies have been used as a sign of thought, and giving someone pansies indicates that you are thinking of them.
While pansies are a beautiful addition to a garden or mantel, they are also edible and taste similar to lettuce, making them an excellent addition to salads and sandwiches. When coated in sugar, they create a delicious cake topper.
Rosemary
Did you know that rosemary flowers can also be consumed? It is common knowledge that rosemary leaves offer a distinctive scent to meat recipes, but did you know the flowers can also be consumed? The lovely small blooms of the Mediterranean plant are often blue, but there are also white, pink, and purple variants.
As they possess a perfume similar to that of the leaves, the blossoms can be used as herbs in any cuisine that calls for rosemary leaves, but they are best enjoyed fresh for their gentle, delicate flavor. They create a wonderful garnish for salads and dinners when sprinkled on the dish.
There you go, the full list of foods that are blue in color. There are lot of them however, we have been able to compile these few. With extensive research, you should figure a few more out.