What color were most carrots before the late 16th century? Answer
Before the late 16th century, carrots were not orange at all, but rather most commonly found in a vibrant spectrum of colors including purple, yellow, and white. The earliest domesticated carrots, which originated in the region of modern-day Afghanistan, were predominantly purple. The familiar bright orange color only became widespread much later, a result of selective breeding by Dutch growers who favored the sweet, high-carotene mutant that happened to align with the national color of the House of Orange.