In response to the rising popularity of the purple diet: eating lilac/purple coloured foods rich in the antioxidant anthocyanin, functional chocolate producer Herza Schokolade has launched a purple range of chocolate pieces.

The purple range consists of white chocolate enhanced with concentrated fruit and vegetable powders. The resulting chocolate pieces in six different shades of purple are visual highlights in cereal mixtures, muesli bars or ice cream, the company says. The chocolates are also available as big leaves, prisms or chopped pieces. On request, Herza can offer the purple range in customised shapes.

The colour of the chocolate pieces stems from the use of fruit powder of elderberries, aronia berries and wild blueberries, as well as vegetable powder extracted from beetroot and black carrots.

Elderberries with their high content of provitamin A and B vitamins are used, for instance, as a medicinal plant to treat colds and flu. They strengthen the immune system and are anti-inflammatory.

The antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and detoxifying action of beetroot is based, among other things, on the high concentration of the vegetable colourants betanin and vulgaxanthin and the high levels of B vitamins and iron. Aronia berries are a super food as they contain several vitamins, including A, C and E, along with numerous minerals and trace elements, for instance calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc and iron. They also contain health-promoting flavonoids.

Thanks to this high concentration of nutrients, Herza Schokolade says they support the cardiovascular system and immune defence. Anthocyanins rank among the most important antioxidants. These phyto colourants protect the body’s cells and vessels, and are anti-inflammatory. Black carrots, wild blueberries and hibiscus extract are rich in anthocyannins.

Hibiscus extract is another source of colouring and nutrients. All of these varieties of fruit and vegetable are rich in various vitamins, minerals and secondary plant substances.

With the new Herza purple range, manufacturers of cereals, muesli bars and ice cream can enhance their products with every conceivable added value, the company says.