Types of Carrots: [Characteristics, Origin, Classifications]

Characteristics of carrots

It is not an exaggeration to say that the carrot is one of the best known and most cultivated vegetables worldwide.

It has many nutritional qualities, a very high antioxidant power and great versatility in the preparation of rich dishes.

It is also an edible tuberous root tuber rich in beta-carotene or vitamin A, vitamins C, K and vital nutrients, such as magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and potassium, among other carotenoid compounds.

Origin of carrots

It has been established that the origin of this tuber is found in the customs developed by the peoples of the hot and dry lands of Afghanistan and Iran, from the year 3000 BC

At this time the commercialization of its seed began , transported in caravans that even reached the rest of the Arab lands, Asia and the burning Africa.

At least until the seventeenth century, black, white, red or purple varieties were obtained . But thanks to the inventiveness of Dutch growers, from that time on the orange carrot made its appearance , the most widespread, reputedly as a tribute to the ruling Dutch Royal House Orange.

Currently, the main world producer of carrots is China, followed by the United States and seconded by Russia. A curious fact about carrots is that, in addition to the characteristic orange color of today, there are also varieties in colors such as yellow, red, white and even purple.

A whole multicolored parade that distinguishes around 100 fully identified varieties around the globe. Let’s now look at the most popular or well-known types of carrot classification, both by color and by region.

Varieties of carrots according to their color

Red carrot

The outer layer of this carrot can vary from pinkish red to purplish red in color and a core or center that ranges from pink to orange. It has a sweeter taste than other varieties.

Its high nutritional value helps reduce the risk of deadly diseases such as cancer.

Yellow carrot

Its growers seek to obtain a sweeter variety and it is characterized because its primary root is not fibrous. It is very crunchy and has a sweet taste – earthy, with parsley and celery sprinkles .

It has high levels of the caretoid lutein, which the human body absorbs as vitamin A.

White carrot

This variety does not have pigments, so it does not have color. Their flavor is much milder than orange ones and they are sometimes confused with parsnips or parsnips.

Purple carrot

This variety is the oldest, dating back millions of years, when it was grown in Afghanistan. Therefore, it withstands very high temperatures that can exceed 50ºC and more, which gives it a characteristic purple color .

Its vitamin properties are similar to the rest, with the exception that it is very rich in anthocyanins, an antioxidant present in large quantities in blueberries that provide great health well-being.

Orange carrot

It broke into Holland from the seventeenth century, when its growers insisted on producing a sweeter tuber with a less fibrous nucleus than its predecessors.

It became the most consumed variety in all of Europe and expanding to the entire world, especially in the western region.

Types of carrots according to their names and regions

Danvers carrots

This variety stands out for being the most popular or majority worldwide, since it is very sweet, crunchy orange carrots with a soft and elongated core, until it tapers at the tip.

Imperator Carrot

It is a very present variety at a commercial level, because producers harvest it on a large scale to take it to food sales and distribution centers, supermarkets, among other businesses.

They are thicker than Danvers. They have more sugar than any other variety.

Nantes carrot

They have the special characteristic of having a shorter or blunt tip and are very sweet and have a pulpy or soft center.

Antares Carrot

Its cultivation is preferably done in summer and autumn . It has a cylindrical shape and is sown between the months of March to May.

Karol carrot

It is an early variety that grows quickly and has a sweetish flavor that is very pleasant on the palate. Its cultivation is carried out on light soils.

Gemini Carrot

It is a variety very given to withstand environments of high humidity and great uniformity.

Carrot Baby

It is another variety of early cultivation, whose root is smooth and fine, highly tolerant to soils that are not very sandy.

Tempo Carrot

It is a variety especially resistant to sandy soils.

Pluto Carrot

It is grown in spring , towards the end of this beautiful season. It can also be done in the summer , because it fulfills a cycle of rapid vegetation.

There are other varieties such as Caracas, Adelaide hibrida, Kyoto red, Atomic red, Snow White, Cosmic purple, Muscade, Berlicum, Chantenay, Kuroda, Pusa asita, Exheard, Lunar White, Jaune obtuse du Doubs.