Gardenia Yellow

Gardenia yellow pigment is a food coloring extracted from the fruits of Gardenia jasminoides, a plant in the Rubiaceae family. Its main component is the glycoside α-crocin, which is a digentiobiosyl ester of crocetin, belonging to the carotenoid series. The product appears as a light yellow to deep red powder, highly soluble in water and aqueous ethanol solutions, but insoluble in fats and anhydrous ethanol. Its hue is almost unaffected by pH levels; however, its stability is slightly poorer under acidic conditions, while it remains relatively stable in neutral or alkaline environments. It is suitable for coloring products such as formulated alcoholic beverages, carbonated drinks, fruit juice (flavored) beverages, jams, candies, pastries, jellies, puffed foods, flatbreads, and ice cream.