Natural food colors originate from a wide range of sources like vegetables, fruits, spices, algae and/or other edible natural sources. They offer a wide spectrum of colors and impart color when added to food or drink.
Natural food colors are preparations obtained from foods and other edible natural source materials obtained by physical and/or chemical extraction resulting in a selective extraction of the pigments relative to the nutritive or aromatic constituents.
They come in many forms consisting of liquids, powders, gels, and pastes.
Food coloring is used both in commercial food production and in domestic cooking.
Below are some of the main colors derived from natural sources including the name of the natural pigments responsible of their coloring properties. Depending on the source and the extraction process applied, it will result a Natural Color additive or a Coloring Food.
Adhatoda vasica (vasaka)
Alkaloids 1% Vasicine 0.8%
Andrographis Paniculta (kalmegh)
Andrographolides 10% to 50%
Andrographis Paniculta
saponins 10% to 20%
Asphalt (Shilajit)
Fulvic acid 1 % to 2%