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18 Delicious Blue Foods For a Colorful Plate

Looking for blue foods? You’re in luck! Here are 18 foods that are blue!

Scientists have said time over time that a healthy diet contains all the colors of the rainbow

It’s easy to find foods in the warm hues of the color spectrum, but we can’t say the same about blue and purple foods.

We all know blue is the rarest color in nature. That’s a fact. There are very few blue things in the world. On top of that, we perceive blue as one of the least appetizing colors.

In fact, most colored fruits are yellow, orange, and red, which are indeed the hues we perceive as succulent and appetizing.

In today’s article, we’ll talk about not only blue vegetables, fruits, and seafood but also several other blue foods in nature to bring a bit of color to your plate. Ready?

18 Naturally Blue Foods

Blue Fruits And Vegetables

Blueberries

Blueberries are the most popular blue foods
Blueberries are the most popular blue foods

Blueberries are perhaps the most popular blue food in the world. 

Aside from their delicious taste, these blue fruits offer an array of health benefits because they are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, which protect you against chronic disease and free radicals.

Blue Elderberries

Blue Elderberry

Elderberries are purplish-blue fruits that help fight off cold and flu viruses. 

They are packed with tons of vitamins, but if you want to consume them, you might want to cook them first, as raw elderberries can be toxic.

Concord Grapes

Blue concord grapes
Blue concord grapes

Concord grapes usually have a dark blue or purple color. They are mainly used to make grape jelly, juice, soft drink, candy, and wine. 

These grapes are packed with antioxidants and vitamins that can boost brain health and the immune system.

Filius Blue Pepper

Filius Blue pepper is a hybrid of chili and poblano peppers. It is native to the United States and can grow in pods of any color, including blue, purple, red, yellow, orange, and green shades.

On top of its short cooking time, the Filius Blue pepper is recognized for the spicy richness of flavor that it adds to most dishes.

Blue Corn

Blue corn
Blue corn

There are corns in a variety of colors, and blue is one of them. Also known as Hopi maize, blue corn is mainly used in Mexico for tortilla-like foods and cereal.

Blue Seafood

Blue American Lobster

Man holding blue lobster

Distributed along the northeast coast of the United States and the east coast of Canada, blue lobster is rare. 

Their color comes from a genetic mutation causing the lobster to produce an excessive amount of protein, resulting in its blue color after several chemical reactions.

However, because they are so rare, when blue lobsters are caught, they’re often returned to the sea or placed in an aquarium instead of in a high-end restaurant kitchen.

Lingcod Fish

Blue Lingcod fish resting on the barge

Native to North America, the blue lingcod flesh seems to be marinated overnight in a tray of blue no. 2 food dye.

These aquatic animals’ blue-green to turquoise color is unique, and their flesh tastes pretty much the same as their white counterparts.

However, nothing lasts forever: this blue fish pastel color vanishes during cooking.

Blue foods fact: Did you know that natural blue foods are scarce? That’s right! Their unusual color comes from blue anthocyanins, antioxidants that give off the blue color in foods.

Del Pacifico Mexican Blue Shrimp

blue shrimp in dark ocean

These blue seafood are sweet and succulent with a snappy texture. 

As the name says, these blue shrimps are caught off the coast of Sinaloa, Mexico.

Blue Crayfish

Blue crayfish
Blue crayfish

Also known as the sapphire and electric blue crayfish, these blue seafood are endemic to Florida.

Although edible, many individuals keep this freshwater animal in an aquarium due to its beautiful color.

Blue Crab

Blue crab
Blue crab

As one of the most recognizable species in the Chesapeake Bay, these crustaceans are also known as the Chesapeake blue crabs and have bright blue claws and olive green shells.

The blue crab’s scientific name, Callinectes sapidus, means “beautiful savory swimmer.”

Other Edible Blue Foods

Here are some other blue foods, edible plants, and flowers.

Cornflower

Blue cornflowers
Blue cornflowers

Cornflowers are gorgeous blue flowers whose edible petals make salads and drinks look fancy.

And in case you were wondering, the petals have a slightly spicy, clove-like flavor with a subtle sweetness.

Indigo Milk Cap

Blue indigo milk cap mushroom
Indigo milk cap

Also known as blue milk mushrooms, these blue fungi are edible mushroom species. However, many people consider them second-class edible.

They’re sold in rural markets in China, Guatemala, and Mexico.

Blue Pea Flower

Blue butterfly pea flower
Blue butterfly pea flower

Edible when tender, this beautiful plant’s flowers have a mild, sweet taste. 

They are great for teas and are often used as a blue food dye, working especially great with rice, for example.

Utrecht Blue Wheat

Utrecht blue wheat

These beautiful blue foods are native to the Netherlands, and while they’re edible, many individuals use them in flower arrangements or crafts because of their durability and gracious color.

Pansy Flower

Blue pansy flower
Blue pansy

Highly decorative, the pansy flower petals are edible and have a fresh, slightly spicy, lettuce-like flavor. 

If we could only use a single word to describe their taste, it would be green. They taste green.

You can use these blue foods in salads to decorate cocktails and baked goods. Just be sure to pick flowers that haven’t been exposed to chemical pesticides.

Blue Rosemary Flowers

Blossoming Blue Rosemary

Also known as Tuscan blue rosemary, the petals of this blue flower are edible but also make beautiful ornaments. 

You can find rosemary flowers in shades of pink, white, and blue.

Wisley Blue Spring Starflowers

Wisley Blue spring starflower

Also known as borage, these blue flowers are edible and native to the Mediterranean region.

Although also used as herbal medicine, many people, mostly in Europe, use borage in salads, soups, and pasta. Borage also has edible leaves.

Blue Cheese

Blue cheese on a dark textured background

Also known as bleu cheese, this cheese is made with cultures of the mold Penicillium, which gives it blue and green veins. 

Blue cheeses tend to be sharp and salty and have a foot odor.

More Foods That Are Blue

Adirondack Blue Potato

Filius Blue Pepper

Nonna Agnes Blue Beans

Blue Cabbage

Indigo Rose Tomatoes

Blue Marble Fruits

Common Bilberries

Damson Plums

Blue Foods Questions

Below you will find a few questions about foods that are blue.

Are there any blue foods?

Yes, there are, but only a few. As the rarest color in nature, blue isn’t a common food color, so chances are you won’t find many blue things out there.

These foods get their vibrant color from anthocyanins, an unstable pigment rich in antioxidants.

Are blue foods healthy?

Oh yeah! As mentioned above, blue foods get their distinctive color from anthocyanins, which not only give off blue hues but also provide powerful health benefits, like improving heart health and reducing the risk of obesity and other diseases.[1]

Did you enjoy this article about foods and fruits that are blue? Then share it with a friend who might enjoy it too!

Mari PAT Mahaffey

Saturday 23rd of September 2023

best foods to combat cancer and maintain good health also protein needed