Natural Blue Colorants
- The plant-derived blue colorant “Linablue® ” is a vibrant food coloring that is extracted with water from Spirulina - "The King of Superfoods".
T main component is Phycocyanin which is a complex of phycocyanobilin and protein.
Other types of seaweeds, like Nori, contain similar ingredients.
Phycocyanin, like chlorophyll and carotenoids, contributes to photosynthesis and plays an important role in life support.
It also has high antioxidant properties and is attracting lots of attention as a health food ingredient.
● About Natural Blue Colorants
① Solubility
- Linablue® powder dissolves quickly in cold or warm water to make a homogeneously transparent solution.
② pH stability
- Its color shade is stable between pH 4,5 - 8,0.
Aggregation and precipitation occur at around pH 4,2 as phycocyanin's structure is combined with protein.
Its stability is improved when used together with milk, egg or other ingredients containing protein.
③ Heat stability
- It is recommended to add Linablue® to a solution after it is cooled down.
It can also be added to a solutiont hat is 60°C or cooler, but should be cooled down further immediately after adding in Linablue.
Its stability improves in high density sucrose solutions.
④ Light stability
- Its color shade deteriorates when exposed to light, but when used together with an antioxidation agent like sodium ascorbate,
its color stability is improved.
⑤ Solubility in alcohol
- Precipitation occurs if used in 100% alcohol, but Linablue can be dissolved in solutions with less than 20% alcohol.
● Appearance
- Linablue's shade is vivid sky blue when dissolved in water.
The color shade of Linablue® is much more brilliant and vivid than gardenia blue.
● Recommended Usage
- Add Linablue® in 0.01 - 0.1% volume weight.
It is recommended to add after the solution's heat treatment.
● DIC's Advantages
▶ Linablue® is superior to other blue colorants.
▶ It is safe and reliable by reason of water extraction, without using any organic solvents.
▶ It has no dyeing effect on your tongue unlike artificial colorants.
▶ It is the only natural blue food colorant which has been approved by both the US and Europe.
▶ It Is approved for many products in the marketplace, such as ice, gum, and candy.
- Linablue® fully complies with standards in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan as well as the United States and Europe.
In addition, it complies with a special requirement by the US FDA ,
requiring "Cyanobacterial toxin (microcystin) free” in order to verify no contamination of the other types of algae.
Linablue and spirulina are regularly inspected at our US research facilities to further ensure safety.
● Major Applications
▶ Usages :
Frozen confectionery, confectionery, etc. , Multicolors (Purple / Green) are possible