What are the pigments in blueberry?

The blue-purple color of blueberries comes from anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are a type of flavonoid, a group of plant pigments responsible for the varied colors of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Anthocyanins appear blue, red, or purple, depending on the pH level and the presence of co-pigments.

Blueberry skins contain particularly high levels of anthocyanins, with around 15-20 different types identified, including malvidin, delphinidin, cyanidin, peonidin, and petunidin. These anthocyanins are primarily responsible for the characteristic blueberry color, contributing to their overall health-promoting properties and antioxidant capacity.