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Safflower (Carthamus) is one of humanity’s oldest crops with its use in China reported over 2,200 years ago. Safflower belongs to the Compositae or Asteraceae family, which is a branching, thistlelike herbaceous plant with spines on its leaves and bracts. Safflower is a common substitute for saffron due to its more favorable price. Safflower is therefore widely known as false saffron.

Betanin is the most important coloring compound in red beet juice. The color of betanin depends on pH; between four and five it is bright bluish-red, becoming blue-violet as the pH increases. Once the pH reaches alkaline levels betanin degrades by hydrolysis, resulting in a yellow-brown color. Beetroot red is available as a liquid, paste, or solid, depending upon the degree of processing.

Chlorophylls are a group of naturally occurring pigments produced in all photosynthetic plants including algae and some bacteria. Chlorophyll is mainly extracted from alfalfa (Medicago sativa), nettles (Urtica dioica) or grasses. When used as food coloring Chlorophyll is processed to replace a magnesium atom at its center with a copper atom, which makes it more stable and also able to dissolve in water.

Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) is a blue-green algae that grows naturally in freshwater. Spirulina has an extensive track record as a food supplement in many cultures. Spirulina contains green chlorophyll and phycobilins (a pigment–protein complex). The coloring properties of spirulina are the phycobilins, these are blue phycocyanins that on extraction create a range of blue hues. Spirulina color extract is available as a powder or liquid.

The purple or black color of the black carrot originates from its pigments called anthocyanins. Black carrot anthocyanins change in molecular structure as the pH of solutions change. This change in structure results in a shift in shade from red, purple to blue as the pH changes from acidic to basic.

Carminic Acid - Carminic Acid Cristallized is a crystallized coloring pigment extracted from cochineal

Carminic Acid - Carminic Acid Spray Dried is a spray dried aqueous solution of coloring pigments extracted from cochineal standardized with carrier

Purple Sweet Potato a a highly sough after source for natural food coloring, offering a raspberry pink/red/violet shade depending on the pH of the product it is being used for. Purple sweet potato is well-suited as food colorant for food products because purple sweet potato has a neutral flavor.