Current Facts About White Eggplant White eggplant, botanically classified as Solanum melongena, is a general descriptor for many eggplant varieties belonging to the Solanaceae or nightshade family. Each cultivar under this name showcases a white to ivory hue, a coloring created from the lack of anthocyanins, which are pigmented compounds in the skin and flesh that typically produce red-purple hues. It is also worth noting that eggplants are botanically a fruit that is customarily prepared like a vegetable. White eggplants vary in size, shape, and overall appearance, but the fruits typically mature in 50 to 90 days and grow on upright, bushy plants. There are two main types of White eggplant: ornamental and culinary cultivars. Ornamental eggplants are not commonly consumed as they carry a bitter flavor and are a part of Solanum ovigerum. Many ornamental eggplants are small and oval, similar in shape to an egg, earning them the nicknames of Egg Trees and Easter Eggs.
Nutritional Value White eggplants are a source of potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, fiber to regulate the digestive tract, and copper to develop connective tissues. Eggplants also provide some magnesium to regulate optimal nerve functioning, vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, and other nutrients, including manganese, vitamin K, niacin, folate, and B vitamins. In Ayurveda, White eggplants have traditionally been used in various treatments for asthma.