Can You Eat Purple Tomatoes? A Guide to Their Safety, Health Benefits, and Flavor

December 24, 2025 •

4 min read

According to agricultural research, purple tomatoes are rich in anthocyanins, the same antioxidants found in blueberries and blackberries. Yes, you can eat purple tomatoes, and these vibrant fruits offer unique nutritional benefits and flavors beyond the standard red varieties.

Quick Summary

Purple tomatoes are safe to eat and boast high antioxidant levels from anthocyanins, providing significant health benefits. Learn about the flavor differences between heirloom and bioengineered varieties, their best culinary uses, and how they stack up nutritionally against red tomatoes.

Key Points

Safety Confirmed: Both heirloom and bioengineered purple tomatoes are safe for human consumption, having passed rigorous safety assessments.
Anthocyanin Power: The vibrant purple color is a sign of high anthocyanin content, a powerful antioxidant that offers numerous health benefits.
Enhanced Nutrition: Purple tomatoes boast a higher nutritional profile than their red counterparts, particularly concerning antioxidant levels.
Diverse Flavors: Taste profiles vary from sweet and savory (bioengineered) to smoky and earthy (heirlooms), providing unique culinary options.
Best Enjoyed Fresh: To preserve their striking color and subtle flavors, many purple varieties are best used raw in salads, sandwiches, and fresh salsas.
Extended Shelf Life: The bioengineered purple tomato offers a longer shelf life, which helps reduce food waste.

Yes, Purple Tomatoes Are Safe to Eat

For many, the sight of a dark purple or black tomato can be unfamiliar and raise questions about its edibility. However, purple tomatoes are not only safe to eat but also offer several health advantages. The deep color comes from anthocyanins, a class of antioxidants also present in fruits like blueberries and blackberries. There are two primary types of purple tomatoes available on the market today: heirloom varieties and bioengineered varieties.

Heirloom purple tomatoes, such as the 'Cherokee Purple' or 'Black Krim', have been cultivated for generations through conventional breeding. These varieties are the result of natural genetic mutations and selective propagation. Bioengineered (or GMO) purple tomatoes, like 'The Purple Tomato' from Norfolk Healthy Produce, have been specifically modified to increase their anthocyanin content significantly. Both types have been deemed safe for consumption by regulatory bodies, including the USDA and FDA in the United States, confirming they pose no greater health risk than conventional tomatoes.

The Health Benefits of Anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are powerful plant compounds with notable health-promoting properties. Their benefits include:

Antioxidant Effects: Anthocyanins neutralize free radicals in the body, which helps reduce oxidative stress and damage to cells, a process linked to aging and many chronic diseases.
Anti-inflammatory Properties: Research indicates that anthocyanins can help reduce inflammation, which is a key factor in conditions like heart disease, cancer, and age-related decline.
Cardiovascular Health: Regular consumption of anthocyanin-rich foods is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Other Potential Benefits: Studies suggest they may also offer anti-cancerous, anti-microbial, and neuroprotective effects, potentially helping with conditions such as obesity and chronic diseases.

Purple Tomatoes vs. Red Tomatoes: A Nutritional Showdown

While all tomatoes are a healthy addition to your diet, purple tomatoes offer a unique nutritional edge due to their high anthocyanin content. Here's how they compare:


Feature	Purple Tomatoes (e.g., Norfolk Healthy Produce)	Red Tomatoes (Conventional)
Key Antioxidants	High in anthocyanins, plus lycopene and carotenoids	High in lycopene and carotenoids
Color Source	Anthocyanin pigments (from snapdragon genes or natural breeding)	Lycopene pigment
Flavor Profile	Often rich, smoky, earthy, and savory, with lower acidity	Classic tomato flavor, often more acidic
Cooking Suitability	Best raw in salads and fresh dishes to preserve color	Excellent for cooking, sauces, and canning
Shelf Life	Bioengineered varieties often have an extended shelf life	Standard shelf life varies by type and freshness

The Diverse World of Purple Tomato Varieties

Beyond a single type, a wide array of purple tomatoes exists, each with its own characteristics. Some popular varieties include:

Cherokee Purple: A famous heirloom beefsteak tomato with a dusky rose-purple skin and a rich, smoky flavor. Its flesh is dense and juicy, making it perfect for slicing.
Black Krim: Another Ukrainian heirloom variety prized for its complex, smoky, and slightly salty flavor. It has a dark, maroon-brown hue.
Indigo Rose: A dark, nearly black cherry tomato developed through conventional breeding. It has an excellent balance of sweetness and tanginess.
The Purple Tomato™: A bioengineered cherry tomato bred by Norfolk Healthy Produce. It's noted for its sweet and savory flavor and exceptionally high anthocyanin content. Seeds are available to home gardeners.
Paul Robeson: A dark, rusty-red to purple heirloom tomato from Russia, renowned for its complex, sweet, and smoky flavor.

How to Enjoy Purple Tomatoes in Your Kitchen

To get the most out of purple tomatoes, consider how their unique flavor and visual appeal can enhance your dishes. Here are some ideas:

Fresh Slices: Simply slice and sprinkle with a little sea salt to enjoy their rich flavor. Their beautiful color makes them a centerpiece on any plate.
Caprese Salad: Substitute red tomatoes with purple ones for a visually stunning and flavorful twist on the classic Caprese salad with mozzarella and basil.
Gourmet Sandwiches: The smoky, complex flavor of a Cherokee Purple is perfect for a standout tomato sandwich.
Raw Salsas: Dice purple varieties for a fresh, colorful salsa that adds visual drama to your appetizers.
Roasted: While cooking can dull the color, roasting can intensify their earthy and smoky flavors, making them great for savory tarts or side dishes.

Conclusion

In summary, purple tomatoes are a safe, delicious, and highly nutritious food that can add both color and a healthy boost of antioxidants to your diet. Whether you choose a traditionally bred heirloom variety or a modern bioengineered one, you can be confident in their edibility and nutritional value. The research is clear: embracing these colorful fruits is a fantastic way to enjoy a broader range of health-promoting plant compounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not all purple tomatoes are genetically modified. Some are traditional heirloom varieties, like 'Cherokee Purple', bred conventionally. However, specific brands, like Norfolk Healthy Produce's Purple Tomato, are bioengineered to contain higher anthocyanin levels.

The deep purple color comes from high concentrations of anthocyanins, potent antioxidant pigments also found in blueberries and blackberries. While some varieties accumulate anthocyanins naturally in their skin, others are bred to have them throughout the fruit.

Purple tomatoes have a distinct flavor profile. Many heirloom varieties have a smoky, earthy, and complex taste, often with lower acidity. Bioengineered types can be sweeter and more savory.

Yes, you can cook purple tomatoes. However, be aware that their striking purple color may turn a more muted or brownish hue when heated. They are best used fresh to showcase their visual appeal.

Purple tomatoes are rich in antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins, which have anti-inflammatory and potentially anti-cancerous properties. Regular consumption may reduce the risk of heart disease and other chronic conditions.

Yes, the bioengineered purple tomato by Norfolk Healthy Produce has been approved for sale and cultivation in the US by the USDA and FDA. Seeds are also available to home gardeners.

For many dark varieties, ripeness is indicated not by color alone but by softness to the touch, similar to red tomatoes. For some, like 'Indigo Rose', the bottom of the fruit may turn red while the rest remains dark.