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Belonging to the nightshade family, eggplants are versatile summer produce due to their meaty texture and subtle flavors. They are a staple ingredient in various dishes, especially in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine. Technically speaking, an eggplant is not a vegetable, but a fruit that is botanically categorized as a berry. Eggplants are served as vegetables in the United States.
They have different names across the globe: “Aubergine” in Europe, “brinjal” in India, “eggfruit” in Australia, and “garden egg” in Africa.
You’re probably familiar with the bulbous, dark purple variety called the globe eggplant. This particular variety is widely grown in the US, dominating most commercial grocery stores. Eggplants are not limited to this appearance. In fact, as we round up different types of eggplant below, you’ll discover their diverse colors, flavors, shapes, and sizes.
Common Eggplant Types
Home gardeners and local farmers have access to a selection of eggplants not commonly found in supermarkets. In addition, growing your own eggplants ensures your produce is free from any unwanted herbicides and pesticides (if you opt for organic planting).
Like any fruit and vegetable crops, eggplants can be categorized by heirloom and hybrid varieties. They can be further grouped based on shape and size as explained below.
Heirloom and Hybrid Eggplants
Heirloom eggplant varieties come from seeds passed down from generation to generation. This seed saving practice is common in many ethnic, family, or religious units in different geographic regions. Another defining characteristic of heirloom varieties is the absence of crossbreeding for at least 40 to 50 years. They are open-pollinated, true-to-seed eggplants, carrying the same traits as the parent plant.
However, heirloom eggplant varieties are susceptible to diseases and pests.
To alleviate these issues, breeders came up with hybrid eggplant cultivars through controlled and manual cross-pollination between two varieties. Ideal characteristics from each parent plant — such as larger fruit size, improved disease- or pest- resistance, and sturdier growth — instilled in the resulting hybrid eggplant variety. Due to these improvements, many large-scale agriculturists and farmers opt for hybrid eggplant types.
Esculentum, Serpentinum, and Depressum Eggplants
The Solanum melongena or eggplant can be grouped into botanical categories, based on the fruit’s shape and size.
Egg-shaped or round eggplant varieties fall under esculentum.
Lengthy, slender eggplants are considered serpentinum.
Dwarf eggplant varieties are depressum.
Continue below for an extensive list of the popular varieties under these categories.
Other Popular Eggplant Groupings
Apart from the botanical groupings mentioned earlier, eggplant can be classified by other characteristics.
Types of Eggplant Colors
Eggplants are not exclusively purple in color.
Types of Eggplant Flavors
Depending on your eggplant’s variety and maturity, it can either taste slightly bitter or sweet.
| Eggplant Flavors | Common Examples (Where to Buy) |
|---|---|
| Mildly Bitter | Black Beauty (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Burpee, Rare Seeds) Gretel Hybrid (True Leaf Market) Hansel Hybrid (True Leaf Market) Konasu (True Leaf Market) Money Maker (True Leaf Market) |
| Sweet | Fairy Tale Hybrid (True Leaf Market) Green Fingers (True Leaf Market) Italian Rosa Bianca (True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Japanese Pickling (True Leaf Market) Ping Tung Long (Territorial Seed Company, Seed Savers Exchange, Rare Seeds) |
Types of Eggplant Skins
Some eggplant varieties have tougher skin than others.
| Eggplant Skins | Common Examples (Where to Buy) |
|---|---|
| Thin-Skinned Eggplants | Fairy Tale Hybrid (True Leaf Market) Gretel Hybrid (True Leaf Market) Listada de Gandia (Territorial Seed Company, Rare Seeds, Seed Savers Exchange) Mizuno Takumi (True Leaf Market) Money Maker (True Leaf Market) |
| Thick-Skinned Eggplants | Filipino Talong Purple No. 1 (True Leaf Market) Finger Fruit Purple (Eden Brothers) Long Purple (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Burpee) Ping Tung Long (Territorial Seed Company, Seed Savers Exchange, Rare Seeds) Turkish Orange (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) |
Types of Eggplant Lifecycles
Annual plants take a whole year to finish their entire lifecycle, while perennial plants take more than two years, able to bear fruit for an extended period.
| Eggplant Lifecycles | Common Examples (Where to Buy) |
|---|---|
| Annual Eggplants | Black Egg (Eden Brothers) Masego (True Leaf Market) Money Maker (True Leaf Market) |
| Perennial Eggplants (also grown as annuals) | Black Beauty (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Burpee, Rare Seeds) Eclipse F1 (True Leaf Market) Long Purple (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Burpee) |
Types of Geographic Origins
The specific origin of eggplants is greatly debated. In Southeast Asia, it has been grown as a perennial plant since prehistoric times. Earliest record of eggplant is found in the Chinese agricultural treatise called Qimin Yaoshu.
| Geographic Origins | Common Examples (Where to Buy) |
|---|---|
| European/Mediterranean Eggplants | Casper White (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Seed Savers Exchange) Italian Rosa Bianca (True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Listada de Gandia (Territorial Seed Company, Rare Seeds, Seed Savers Exchange) Prosperosa (Territorial Seed Company) Rolandia (Territorial Seed Company) |
| American Eggplants | Florida High Bush (Seed Savers Exchange) Florida Market (True Leaf Market, Seed Savers Exchange) Gretel Hybrid (True Leaf Market) Louisiana Long Green (True Leaf Market) Patio Baby (Territorial Seed Company) |
| Asian Eggplants | Japanese Pickling (True Leaf Market) Japanese White Egg (True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Ping Tung Long (Territorial Seed Company, Seed Savers Exchange, Rare Seeds) Round Mauve (True Leaf Market) Thai Round (True Leaf Market) |
Types of Culinary Uses
The eggplant fruit is commonly cooked, and mixed with other food ingredients. Its spongy texture absorbs sauces and other spices well.
| Culinary Uses | Common Examples (Where to Buy) |
|---|---|
| Eggplants for Baking | Aswad (Rare Seeds) Bride F1 (True Leaf Market) Kamo (True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Kurume (True Leaf Market) Thai Green (Seed Savers Exchange, Rare Seeds) |
| Eggplants for Roasting/Grilling | Mitoyo (Rare Seeds) Money Maker (True Leaf Market) Purple Shine (True Leaf Market) Satsuma Long (Rare Seeds) Shiromaru (Rare Seeds) |
| Eggplants for Stir-fry | Chinese String (Rare Seeds) Choryoku (True Leaf Market) Little Finger Purple (True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Japanese White Egg (True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Kyoto Egg (True Leaf Market) |
Types of Disease Resistance
Hybrid eggplant varieties tend to be more resistant to disease than heirloom varieties.
| Disease Resistance | Common Examples (Where to Buy) |
|---|---|
| Disease Resistant Eggplants | Diamond (Seed Savers Exchange) Eclipse F1 (True Leaf Market) Florida Market (True Leaf Market, Seed Savers Exchange) Ping Tung Long (Territorial Seed Company, Seed Savers Exchange, Rare Seeds) Thai Round (True Leaf Market) |
| Susceptible Heirloom Eggplants | Black Beauty (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Burpee, Rare Seeds) Kamo (True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Konasu (True Leaf Market) Masego (True Leaf Market) Petch Siam (True Leaf Market) |
Types of Preferred Growing Conditions
Eggplant primarily thrives in warm conditions. You can plant them in a greenhouse if you live in a cool area. Some varieties can also be grown in containers or pot.
| Preferred Growing Conditions | Common Examples (Where to Buy) |
|---|---|
| Greenhouse Eggplants | Black Egg (Eden Brothers) Eclipse F1 (True Leaf Market) Finger Fruit Purple (Eden Brothers) Michal (Territorial Seed Company) Turkish Orange (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) |
| Field Eggplants | Long Purple (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Burpee) Nagasaki Long (Rare Seeds) Ping Tung Long (Territorial Seed Company, Seed Savers Exchange, Rare Seeds) Thai Long Green (Rare Seeds) |
| Container Eggplants | Fairy Tale Hybrid (True Leaf Market) Gretel Hybrid (True Leaf Market) Hansel Hybrid (True Leaf Market) Italian Rosa Bianca (True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Patio Baby (Territorial Seed Company) |
Popular Varieties of Round Eggplants
There are many cultivars of round eggplants (Solanum melongena var. esculentum). From Italian to Asian varieties, there’s an eggplant for you and your recipes.
| Variety | Description | Days to Germination | Days to Maturity | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese White Egg | This Japanese eggplant variety produces fruit reminiscent of an egg. The White Egg variety has a hint of spice, making it a popular ingredient for stir-fry. | 10 to 15 days | 65 to 75 days | True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds |
| Turkish Orange | This heirloom eggplant variety has a sweeter flavor that becomes slightly bitter as it ripens. | 5 to 14 days | 70 to 90 days | Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market |
| Italian Rosa Bianca | Originating from Italy, the Italian Rosa Bianca yields round, creamy lavender fruits perfect for slicing. | 7 to 14 days | 70 to 80 days | True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds |
| Prosperosa | The Prosperosa is a meaty Italian eggplant with a ribbed and round shape. | 7 to 14 days | 70 to 75 days | Territorial Seed Company |
| Thai Round | This Thai eggplant is a disease-resistant variety with small, striped fruits about 2 inches in diameter. It is ideal for growing in a container or pot. | 7 to 14 days | 55 to 60 days | True Leaf Market |
| Black Beauty | The Black Beauty eggplant has a slightly bitter taste. The plant can yield 4 to 6 dark-purple fruits in an annual growth cycle. | 7 to 12 days | 75 to 90 days | Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Burpee, Rare Seeds |
Popular Varieties of Snake Eggplants
Commonly elongated and slim, the snake eggplant (Solanum melongena var. serpentinum) varieties might be the most familiar to you. Some varieties have a curled tip while still maintaining a cylindrical shape.
| Variety | Description | Days to Germination | Days to Maturity | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese Pickling | The Japanese Pickling can grow anywhere between 10 to 16 inches in length. They are primarily mild and sweet with elongated and slender shape. | 7 to 14 days | 65 to 75 days | True Leaf Market |
| Ping Tung Long | This Chinese eggplant variety is an excellent all-round option with its mild taste and tender texture. The Ping Tung eggplant can grow as long as 12 inches. | 10 to 14 days | 65 to 75 days | Territorial Seed Company, Seed Savers Exchange, Rare Seeds |
| Louisiana Long Green | The Louisiana Long Green eggplant is a Southern variety known for its lime-green, glossy skin and sweet flavor. | 7 to 14 days | 80 to 100 days | True Leaf Market |
| Millionaire | A distinct Japanese variety, the Millionaire has an early maturity rate for a bountiful harvest. The resulting fruit can grow 8 inches long. | 10 to 21 days | 54 to 63 days | Territorial Seed Company |
| Purple Comet F1 | The Purple Comet F1 variety has a deep purple skin that remains until maturity. It has a firm, white flesh, and fewer seeds. | 5 to 10 days | 55 to 70 days | True Leaf Market |
| Bride F1 | The Bride F1 is a hybrid eggplant variety, growing anywhere between 8 to 9 inches long. The fruit has a unique gradient color of purple and white. | 5 to 14 days | 65 to 70 days | True Leaf Market |
Popular Varieties of Dwarf Eggplants
If you have limited garden space, any of the dwarf eggplant varieties should be your top choice to grow. They are the right variety due to their compact size, easily fitting a typical container or pot in your patio.
| Variety | Description | Days to Germination | Days to Maturity | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patio Baby | The oval-shaped Patio Baby eggplant is an All-America Selections winner due to its compact plant growth, thornless structure, and mild flavor. This dark purple fruit has a teardrop shape. | 7 to 10 days | 45 days | Territorial Seed Company |
| Fairy Tale Hybrid | Another All-America Selections winner, the Fairy Tale eggplant has white and violet stripes on its skin and sweet, white flesh. It has a thinner skin compared to different varieties. Due to its small plant size, the Fairy Tale is also a good choice for container growing. | 7 to 14 days | 49 to 51 days | True Leaf Market |
| Gretel Hybrid | With its green calyx, the Gretel Hybrid produces clusters of white, elongated eggplants in a petite plant structure. This variety has high yielding capacity and adapts well in container planting. Additionally, the Gretel eggplant won the 2005 All-America Selection award. | 7 to 14 days | 50 to 60 days | True Leaf Market |
| Hansel Hybrid | The Hansel Hybrid variety bagged the All-America Selection award in 2008 for its tender flesh and non-bitter taste. It grows in fingerlike clusters and thrives well in a deck or patio due to its smaller size. | 7 to 14 days | 50 to 55 days | True Leaf Market |
| Konasu | The Konasu eggplant uniquely has a black to dark purple skin and calyx. Its small size makes it ideal for stews. You can plant this variety of eggplant at home, preferably in a field. | 7 to 14 days | 60 to 65 days | True Leaf Market |
FAQ About Types of Eggplants
Which eggplant type is the best for grilling?
When grilled, large slices of round eggplants hold up well without losing most of their original shape. Adding beauty to your food presentation, grill marks are most noticeable on thicker slices, especially varieties with white flesh. Brush a stroke of olive oil and add your choice of spices to elevate your grilled eggplant.
Which is the longest eggplant variety?
The Fengyuan eggplant is a Taiwanese heirloom considered to be the longest eggplant variety as it can grow up to a foot long.
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