We all may have seen various colours of apples like red, yellow and even green. But have you ever heard of a blue apple? These days, blue apples are a hot discussion on social media and many are left wondering if the photos circulating on the internet are real or fake. It has also led to people questioning the place where it is cultivated and why is its colour blue.
On the Quora platform, a user asked the question, “Are there naturally blue-coloured apples?” While some believe that blue-coloured apples do exist naturally, others disagree. A user wrote, “There aren’t any naturally blue foods. Most that people think of as blue are purple and fall further into the red spectrum. The bluest food is probably the shell of a raw blue crab. Blueberries are mostly red-purple.”
Another user wrote, “Yes, there are naturally blue-coloured apples. The pigment that creates the blue colour is anthocyanin, which is also found in other fruits and vegetables like red cabbage and purple potatoes. Anthocyanin is a water-soluble pigment that can change colour depending on the pH level of its environment. So, when an apple ripens and the sugar levels increase, the anthocyanin produces a blue hue.”
Another user shared, “Blue isn’t really a pigment in nature, it doesn’t occur naturally. It’s either manufactured by humans or if you do see blue in natural things it is because of different reasons like the light and formation of that thing and how light is reflected off it.”
There were discussions that blue apples are cultivated and grown in Japan. However, there is no truth in it. Reportedly, blue-coloured apples are not found naturally and can be the result of genetic modification. Rumouredly, efforts have been made to grow this unique fruit in Japan and China. However, scientists have not been successful yet.
Meanwhile, one of the most enigmatic apples that has often left many mesmerised is the black diamond apple. It has a jet-black shade and is quite sweet and crisp in comparison to its other counterparts. Its origins are still not known but these fruits are quite rare to find. These Obsidian Apples are an exclusive cultivar which can be found in the mountains of Tibet.