Classification of Natural Food Colorants

Color

Pigment Product

Source

Characteristics and Applications

Blue

Phycocyanin - Blue Spirulina Powder

Spirulina

Contains phycocyanin, with antioxidant and anti - inflammatory properties. Used in dietary supplements, beverages, and food coloring.

Butterfly Pea Extract - Natural Blue Color

Butterfly pea flowers

Contains anthocyanins. Used in the food and beverage industry, and the color changes with pH value.

Gardenia Blue Color

Gardenia fruits

Provides a stable blue color, used in food and beverages to enhance appearance.

Green

Spinach Extract

Spinach

Rich in chlorophyll, used in food, beneficial for liver health and has antioxidant properties.

Mulberry Leaves Extract

Mulberry leaves

Contains pigments, can be used in food, dietary supplements, with potential health benefits.

Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin

Semi - synthetic derivative of chlorophyll

Used in the food industry to provide a stable green color.

Red

Red Beet Root Powder

Beet Roots

Contains betalains, with antioxidant and anti - inflammatory properties. Used in food and beverages.

Lycopene - Tomato Extract Powder

Tomatoes

Rich in lycopene, used in dietary supplements and food, beneficial for heart and skin health.

Carmine Red Color

Cochineal insects

Contains carminic acid, used in food, cosmetics, but may cause allergies in some individuals.

Monascus Red Color

Red Yeast Rice 

Contains monacolins and red pigments, used in traditional Chinese medicine and food coloring.

Yellow

Turmeric extract Curcumin powder

Turmeric

Contains curcumin, used in cooking, dietary supplements, and cosmetics, with various health benefits.

Safflower Yellow

Safflower

Contains carotenoids, used in food coloring, with potential biological activities.

Marigold Extract Marigold Oleoresin

Marigold

Rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, used in food, dietary supplements, and cosmetics.

Purple

Black Carrot Purple

Black carrots

Contains anthocyanins, used in food and dietary supplements.

Radish Red Color - Natural Pigment

Purple - skinned radishes

Contains anthocyanins, used in food products and natural food coloring.

Purple Sweet Potato Color

Purple sweet potatoes

Rich in anthocyanins, used in Asian cuisine and food products.

Cabbage Purple

Purple cabbage

Contains anthocyanins, pH - sensitive, used in food and science experiments.

Orange

Dunaliena salina orange

Dunaliena salina microalgae

Rich in beta - carotene, used in dietary supplements and food coloring.

Palm Fruit Orange

Palm fruits

Contains various carotenoids, used in the food industry.

Chili Pepper Extract Capsanthin

Dried chili peppers

Contains capsanthin, used as a spice and food coloring.

Annatto Extract

Annatto seeds

Contains bixin, used in food products.

White

Corn white

Corn

Corn starch can be used for whitening food.

Arabic gum white

Acacia trees

Used in the food industry as an emulsifier and stabilizer.

Black

Vegetable Carbon Black

Bamboo

Used in food, inks, and cosmetics for coloring.

Chemical Structure

Related Pigments

Characteristics

Chlorophylls

Green pigments in spinach and mulberry leaves

Porphyrin derivatives, crucial for photosynthesis.

Betalains

Pigments in red beets

Nitrogen - containing pigments, divided into red - violet (betacyanins) and yellow - orange (betaxanthins).

Anthocyanins

Pigments in blue (butterfly pea flower) and purple (black carrot, etc.)

Flavonoids, water - soluble, sensitive to pH.

Carotenoids

Pigments in yellow (turmeric, safflower, marigold), orange (Dunaliena salina, etc.), and some red (tomato)

Isoprenoid compounds, fat - soluble.

Other Compounds

Monacolins in red yeast rice, carminic acid in carmine, curcumin in turmeric

Have unique chemical structures and properties.