Ascorbic acid. Water-soluble, heat-sensitive and readily lost during cooking and storage.
Every figure here is per 100 g of the food, not per serving. That makes foods comparable to each other, but it is not how anyone eats: 100 g of a dried spice and 100 g of a leafy green are very different portions, so a high position in this list does not tell you what a meal contributes.
Nutrient values are per 100 g of the USDA reference entry named on this page and vary with variety, growing conditions, storage and preparation.
% DV compares the per-100 g amount with the FDA Daily Value of 90 mg for adults and children aged 4 and over. It is a labelling reference, not a personal target.
24 entries with a measured vitamin c value, highest first.
Thymus vulgaris
A small-leaved Mediterranean subshrub used fresh or dried, and one of the few herbs that stands up to long cooking. Its…
178% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Petroselinum crispum
A biennial Apiaceae herb eaten fresh in quantity in dishes such as tabbouleh and used as a garnish elsewhere. It is unusually…
148% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Capsicum annuum
Non-pungent cultivars of Capsicum annuum, harvested green or left to ripen to red, yellow or orange. Ripening changes their…
142% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Brassica oleracea var. sabellica
A loose-leaved cabbage that does not form a head, eaten raw in salads or cooked. Like other Brassica oleracea vegetables it…
104% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Actinidia deliciosa
A fuzzy-skinned berry from a woody vine, with green or golden flesh and small edible black seeds. It contains actinidin, a…
103% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Brassica oleracea var. italica
The immature flower heads and stalks of a cultivated Brassica oleracea. It is the most-studied source of glucoraphanin, the…
99% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Anethum graveolens
The feathery leaf of Anethum graveolens, used fresh with fish, cucumber and cultured dairy; the seed is a separate spice with a…
94% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera
Small axillary buds that grow along a thick stalk, another cultivar of Brassica oleracea. Modern varieties have been bred for…
94% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Crocus sativus
The dried stigmas of the Crocus sativus flower, harvested by hand and the most expensive spice by weight. The USDA entry is per…
90% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Capsicum annuum
Dried ground fruit of hot Capsicum annuum varieties. The USDA entry is per 100 g of the dried spice; a shake over a dish is well…
85% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Carica papaya
A soft tropical fruit with orange or red flesh and black seeds, eaten ripe as fruit and green as a vegetable. Its latex contains…
68% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Fragaria x ananassa
The aggregate fruit of a low-growing Rosaceae plant, with the seeds carried on the outside. Sold fresh year-round and frozen,…
65% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Citrus x sinensis
The sweet orange, a hybrid citrus grown commercially on every inhabited continent. Most of the world crop is pressed for juice…
59% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Citrus limon
A highly acidic citrus fruit used mainly for its juice and zest rather than eaten whole. Citric acid makes up a large share of…
59% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
A cultivated Brassica oleracea grown for its dense head of undeveloped flower buds. Its mild flavour and low carbohydrate content…
54% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Ananas comosus
A tropical bromeliad whose edible fruit is formed from many fused berries around a fibrous core. Notable for bromelain, a group…
53% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Pisum sativum
Immature seeds of the pea plant, eaten fresh or frozen while still sweet and starchy rather than dried. Unlike the dried pulses…
44% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
A dense-headed Brassica oleracea cultivar, eaten raw, cooked or fermented. Red varieties carry anthocyanins that change colour…
41% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Mangifera indica
A tropical stone fruit in the cashew family, with hundreds of cultivars differing sharply in fibre, sweetness and aroma. Eaten…
40% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Salvia officinalis
The grey-green leaf of Salvia officinalis, used fresh or dried and traditionally paired with fatty meats. The USDA entry is per…
36% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Mentha × piperita
A natural hybrid of watermint and spearmint, grown for its high menthol content and used fresh, dried or as an essential oil. The…
35% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Citrus x paradisi
A large, bitter-sweet citrus fruit, a hybrid of pomelo and sweet orange. Pink and red varieties owe their colour to lycopene,…
35% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Allium sativum
The bulb of Allium sativum, used raw, crushed or cooked as a seasoning in most cuisines. The USDA reference entry is per 100 g of…
35% of the Daily Value per 100 g
Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris
A leafy form of the same species as beetroot, grown for its leaves and thick stalks rather than its root. The coloured stems owe…
33% of the Daily Value per 100 g