Purple corn extract is one of the most potent antioxidant superfoods available, containing significantly higher levels of anthocyanins than blueberries. Sourced from Peru and used for centuries, it supports everything from reducing inflammation to stimulating the pineal gland — and it tastes remarkably good too.
Purple corn extract is one of our all-time favourite products, and we've been selling it since 2006 — back when David Wolfe first introduced us to the incredible range of Peruvian superfoods alongside maca and lucuma. It was David who first asked the Peruvian farmers if they could begin producing raw cacao, and in doing so, opened the door to a whole family of extraordinary crops that would go on to define the raw food movement.
We love purple corn extract for four main reasons:
- It has a genuinely great taste — something like Ribena, which makes it unlike most superfoods 😋
- It produces a beautiful, vivid purple colour that is unmatched by any other natural food colouring 💜
- It is exceptionally rich in anthocyanins — the antioxidant compounds that make it a true superfood 💪
- It is third-eye opening and pineal gland stimulating — yes, we'll explain that in more detail below 👁️
🌽 What Is Purple Corn Extract — and Why Does It Matter?
Purple corn is a variety of maize grown in the Andean highlands of Peru. But what sets it apart from ordinary corn is its extraordinary concentration of anthocyanins — the pigment compounds responsible for its deep purple colour, and the reason it has been prized in South America for thousands of years.
When purple corn started gaining popularity in the West, a lot of people began selling the flour — and honestly, that's a waste of money. Purple corn flour is essentially cornflour. It doesn't taste of much, won't turn your food purple, contains no more antioxidants than blueberries or red grapes, and won't do anything for your third eye.
The extract is a completely different story. By isolating the anthocyanins, you get all the potency of the plant in concentrated form. Our current purple corn extract is a 30:1 extract — meaning 30kg of purple corn goes into every 1kg of extract. Previously we stocked a 7:1 extract, so this is a significant step up in quality. It is, as far as we're aware, the most pure and potent purple corn extract available anywhere in the world today.
Buy Raw Living Purple Corn Extract here
💜 What Are Anthocyanins and Why Are They So Powerful?
The word anthocyanin comes from the Greek — anthos meaning flower, and kyanos meaning blue. Anthocyanins are the plant pigments responsible for the purple, blue and red colours found in many fruits and vegetables, and they belong to the broader family of plant chemicals called flavonoids.
They are also among the most studied antioxidant compounds in nutritional science. When there's an excess of oxygen-based free radicals in the body, it creates a state called oxidative stress. Antioxidants act as scavengers, mopping up these free radicals before they can cause damage to cells and tissues.
Researchers in Texas found that the anthocyanin content of purple corn is 16.4mg per serving — compared to no more than 3.8mg in blueberries. That's more than four times the concentration, which is remarkable.
Studies have shown purple corn to:
- Reduce inflammation
- Inhibit the spread of cancer cells
- Decrease cholesterol levels
- Reduce atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
- Help prevent obesity and diabetes (shown in studies in Japan)
- Protect the retina and support vision (noted by researchers in Ohio)
References: Studies cited include research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Journal of Nutrition, and Cancer Letters — full references listed at the foot of this article.
👁️ Does Purple Corn Extract Support the Pineal Gland?
This is one of the things that makes purple corn extract genuinely unlike any other superfood we stock. In our experience — and in the experience of many customers over nearly two decades — purple corn has real psychoactive properties. It awakens and stimulates the pineal gland, and for sensitive individuals, this can be quite noticeable.
What that actually looks like varies from person to person. For some, it's a gentle heightening of awareness. For others, it's more pronounced. Our advice: start slowly. A quarter of a teaspoon is enough to feel something. A whole teaspoon? We'd suggest not operating heavy machinery! 😄
If the pineal gland benefits are what you're drawn to, try a full teaspoon combined with suma or mucuna pruriens for a more potent effect.
Buy Raw Living Mucuna Extract here.
Buy Raw Living Suma powder here.
There's also an ancient Hopi prophecy that has stayed with us since we first heard it in the mid-2000s: "When purple corn comes to the West, that is the time of the Great Awakening." Having sold more purple corn extract over the past fifteen years than probably anyone else in the West, we feel quietly honoured to have played a part in that. ✨
🍹 How to Use Purple Corn Extract
Purple corn extract is incredibly versatile, and because it's a 30:1 concentrate, a little goes a long way. Here are our favourite ways to use it:
- Chicha Morada — the traditional Peruvian drink made with purple corn, lime juice and a touch of sweetness. You can also make a warming version with chilli. There's a recipe in our Raw Magic book.
- As a natural food colouring — it's perfect for mylks, smoothies and raw desserts. Purple guacamole is always a hit! 💜
- Combined with cacao — as a Peruvian crop, purple corn pairs beautifully with raw cacao. It's one of the ingredients that makes our legendary Quantum Cake what it is. 🍫
Buy the Raw Magic superfoods recipe book here
Buy our Raw Living Greener Grass super greens blend containing Purple Corn Extract
Get the Legendary Quantum Cake recipe here
🌾 Why You Should Always Buy the Extract, Not the Flour
It's worth returning to this point because it's one we feel strongly about. When purple corn first started gaining traction in the West, a wave of products hit the market — and most of them were flour. If you've ever bought purple corn flour and been underwhelmed, this is why.
The anthocyanins — the compounds that give purple corn its colour, its antioxidant power, and its pineal gland properties — are concentrated in the extract. The flour contains almost none of these in meaningful amounts. Always buy the purple corn extract, and always use it in small doses given its potency.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Purple Corn Extract
Q: What is purple corn extract good for? A: Purple corn extract is primarily valued for its exceptionally high anthocyanin content, which gives it powerful antioxidant properties. Studies suggest it can help reduce inflammation, support cardiovascular health, protect vision, and assist with blood sugar regulation. It is also well known for its pineal gland stimulating properties.
Q: How is purple corn extract different from purple corn flour? A: Purple corn flour is essentially cornflour — it lacks meaningful concentrations of anthocyanins, has very little flavour, and won't colour your food. The extract isolates the active compounds and is vastly more potent. Our 30:1 extract means 30kg of corn goes into every 1kg of product.
Q: How much purple corn extract should I take? A: Start with a quarter of a teaspoon and see how you respond, particularly if you are sensitive to the effects of different foods. A full teaspoon is a significant dose. Because of its psychoactive properties, we recommend building up slowly and not taking a large amount if you need to drive or operate machinery.
Q: What does purple corn extract taste like? A: It has a pleasant, slightly sweet flavour — many people compare it to Ribena. This makes it one of the more enjoyable superfoods to incorporate into drinks and recipes, and it produces a striking deep purple colour in anything you add it to.
Q: Can I use purple corn extract as a natural food colouring? A: Yes — it's one of the best natural food colourings available. It creates a vivid, stable purple colour in smoothies, mylks, raw desserts and even savoury dishes. Unlike artificial colourings, it also brings genuine nutritional benefits.
Q: Where does purple corn come from? A: Purple corn is native to Peru and has been cultivated in the Andes for thousands of years. It remains a staple of Peruvian food culture, most notably in the traditional drink Chicha Morada. Our extract is sourced directly from Peruvian farmers. 🌿
🛒 Ready to Try Purple Corn Extract?
If you've been curious about purple corn extract, now is a great time to try it. Our current stock is a 30:1 extract — the most potent we've ever carried — and after nine months of searching to find the right supplier, we're genuinely excited to have it back.
Whether you're drawn to the antioxidant benefits, the natural colour, the Peruvian heritage, or the pineal gland properties, purple corn extract earns its place in the top ten superfoods we sell. Try it for yourself and let us know what you notice. ✨
Buy Raw Living Purple Corn Extract here
References
1. Cevallos-Casals BA, Cisneros-Zevallos L. Stoichiometric and kinetic studies of phenolic antioxidants from Andean purple corn and red-fleshed sweet potato. J Agric Food Chem. 2003;51(11):3313–3319.
2. Tsuda T, Horio F, Osawa T. Cyanidin 3-O-b-D-glucoside suppresses nitric oxide production during zymosan treatment in rats. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol. 2002;48(4):305–310.
3. Hagiwara A, et al. Pronounced inhibition by a natural anthocyanin, purple corn color, of PhIP-associated colorectal carcinogenesis in male F344 rats. Cancer Lett. 2001;171:17–25.
4. Tsuda T, Horio F, Osawa T. Dietary cyanidin 3-O-D-glucoside increases ex vivo oxidation resistance of serum in rats. Lipids. 1998;33(6):583–588.
5. Tsuda T, et al. Dietary cyanidin 3-O-D-glucoside-rich purple corn color prevents obesity and ameliorates hyperglycemia in mice. J Nutr. 2003;133(7):2125–2130.
