Blueberries, originating in North America, are known for their deep blue color that matches the name of the berry. But are they really blue? The insides are yellow and green, when they are squished, they turn into a red mush, and the outside is more accurately a deep purple color. All this time, we have been lied to. Blueberries are not blue!

If the outside is a deep purple and the inside is a pale yellowish green, how in the world do blueberries produce a deep red when they become all mushed up? Of course, there is a reasonable scientific explanation for this. The inside of the blueberry has no effect on the color as it is too transparent. The outside of the blueberry controls the final pigment when mixed, with the chemical residues covering the outside of the blueberry. These chemicals are called anthocyanins and anthocyanidins, and they hold all the responsibility for the odd color changes of blueberries.

But even with this shocking information, blueberry-enjoyers continue to eat their favorite berries. “Blueberries are a tasty snack that are much more than just blue,” Jack Barbour (11) claims. He affirms that “they are much more than the blue but only accredited with the fact that they are blue; this diminishes the green and purple personality behind the blue outside.” Jack firmly believes that this shocking science news should not distract those who enjoy blueberries, but hopefully he will realize that they are in fact not blue, but purple. Others feel the same; Deeya Vaishnav (11) believes that “blueberries are so good; they’re delicious and packed with antioxidants! The colors packed into such a small fruit add to the fun.” The secrets of blueberries make them all the more enjoyable.