Many people think colour is the only striking difference between green, orange, yellow and orange bell pepper. You will be shocked that when you peal the back layers of the pepper, you will discover there are many differences between the different coloured bell peppers. As we know pepper are good spices and are healthy for the body. i have a detailed article on peeper farming. Vegetable farming is one of the most lucrative Agriculture business idea.
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The difference between green, orange, red and orange bell peppers
- Despite their distinct colour, scientifically, all bell peppers originate from the same genus and species of plant, known as capsicum annuum.
- The reason for the variation in colour you see in bell peppers is due to the use of different cultivars. In case, you don’t know the meaning of cultivar, it means cultivated varieties of plants that are removed from existing plant rather than seeds.
- As such for any given this pepper plant there may exist a catalogue of coloured peppers that is dependent on many factors.
- The seed source of all the bell pepper are the same, this is the case for all capsicum annum, but they have different characteristic depending upon the special variety of the plant. So the actual factors responsible for the disparity in a bell pepper’s colour is the time of harvesting and degree of ripening.
- In most cases a green bell pepper usually mature into a yellow/orange then grows on to gain red colour.
- Whichever way, orange, yellow and red are always more ripen than the green ones. That is why they are costlier than the green bell peppers because they require a longer time on ground before they can be harvested.
- It is important to note that all bell peppers come from the species of plant, and their different colours are achieved by following a natural process and not artificial method.
- Despite their unique colours, each coloured pepper has a unique array of nutritional benefits.
Green bell pepper
- Green bell peppers are picked before they have fully matured and are often termed unripe pepper.
- Because they’re pre-maturely harvested, they have a slightly bitter flavour and will never have the sweet taste of their red, yellow and orange counterparts.
- Being harvested at an immature time notwithstanding green pepper has several vital nutrients.
- It has plenty of potassium, which is important for promoting muscle contraction and regulate blood pressure.
- Green bell pepper also has vitamin C, which aids in the growth and repair of tissue, improves immunity, guards against infection, and helps in prevention of cancer.
- The vitamin A, gotten from bell pepper enhances your lung function, improves your eyesight, and strengthens your immune system.
Red bell peppers
- Red bell peppers are considered to be matured and fully ripened, because they are picked at the later stages of maturity.
- They have a sweet, almost fruity taste. the nutrients in red bell peppers are same with that in green bell peppers, have but more quantity of nutrient because they spend more time on the plant before harvesting.
- In addition to other nutrients the red pepper has lycopene, which is an antioxidant pigment known for preventing certain type of cancer such as breast and prostate cancer.
- Nutrients like zeaxanthin and lutein present in red pepper are known to prevent cataracts and muscular degeneration.
- They have eleven times more beta-carotene, 1 and a half times more vitamin c, and 10 times more vitamin A than the green ones.
Yellow/orange bell pepper
- Orange and yellow peppers are harvested at the midpoint of maturity and therefore fall in between green and red bell pepper on the “ripeness” spectrum. This is because there is no waiting for it to turn red, ones its coloured have changed from green to yellow or orange harvest takes place.
- And then it lacks the bitterness often associated with green bell pepper even though it contains same type of nutrient as that in red and green bell peppers. Although they contain same type of nutrients as that in red and green bell pepper, but their quantity is different.
- The amount of nutrient in yellow/orange bell pepper are more than in green bell peppers, but less than that in red peppers.
- This is because red peppers are more mature followed by yellow/orange pepper than green pepper counter parts.
- The amount of vitamin C is nearly double in yellow/orange bell pepper when compared to green bell pepper.
- However, the quantity of beta carotene and vitamin A is one third as that of green bell pepper.
Conclusion
Bell pepper, like most other vegetable, retain highest nutritional value when they are consumed in raw form.
Their colours notwithstanding, they are very suitable for raw consumption, remember to use them in your fried rice. You now know the difference between red, green, orange, and yellow bell peppers, go ahead and get some of this crunchy rainbow veggies. And make sumptuous nutritional food for yourself.
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I would like to read the article on pineapple again
Thanks for this piece. It has increased my knowledge.