You may have noticed Rainbow Carrots in the shops and wondered if they were some new genetically-modified aberration. We love their vibrant deep purple, red, orange, yellow and even white hues and their fantastic flavour, but did you know that all carrots once looked like this?

The reason why most of the carrots we buy today are orange dates from the 17th century, when the House of Orange decided that the orange carrot was a great emblem and symbolic of the struggle for Dutch independence – and it became the carrot of choice amongst Dutch breeders.

As a result orange carrots ended up dominating in West, but other colours are still popular in other parts of the world.

Some rainbow carrot facts:

- The yellow ones get their colour from the pigment xanthophylls, found in spinach, which has been linked with good eye health.

- Varieties of red carrots contain lycopene, a pigment also found in tomatoes. This acts as a powerful antioxidant and is particularly effective against prostate cancer. In older people, lycopene could reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

- The purple vegetables owe their colour to anthocyanins, a pigment rich in vitamins C and E that feed the brain and are a powerful antioxidant. They have already been sold in Britain.

-White carrots lack pigment but contain other health-promoting substances called phytochemicals, which can reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

- Orange carrots get their colour from beta carotene with some alpha carotene, a pigment the body turns into vitamin A. This is essential for healthy skin and vision in dim light. They also contain tiny traces of xanthophylls, lycopene and anthocyanins.

So don’t be suspicious, give these lovely colourful carrots a try, they truly are a treat.