No, you don't need to use paint or dye to make purple or orange cauliflower! Purple cauliflower gets its range of shades—from pale to intense jewel tones—from the antioxidant anthocyanin, which is found in red cabbage and red wine. Orange cauliflower was first grown in Canada back in 1970, although it took a while to mass-produce it. The color comes from a genetic mutation that makes the plant hold more beta-carotene, as well as 25% more vitamin A than regular white cauliflower.