BETANIN

The main edible source of betanin is beetroot. Betanin is a water soluble pigment like anthocyanin. When used for colouring, beetroot juice is pasteurised to reduce micro-organisms. It can contain upto 70% sugar and 0.5% betanin pigment. The colour content can be increased by fermenting the juice and removing the alcohol during a concentration step. Beetroot juice can also be spray dried onto a carrier to produce a powder. Betanin is a strong colour. Hence, quantities required to colour food or beverages are typically lower than other natural pigments.

fuchsia-color-series

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Betanin?

Betanin is a water-soluble natural colour pigment mainly sourced from red beet. Like anthocyanins, this naturally occurring pigment has a vivid colour and usually used for fuchsia series of colours. Redbeet gives a brilliant pink tone to the application and is ideally used in cold and instant beverage applications. The fuchsia series of colours can be associated with flavours like strawberry, rose sherbets etc.

How is betanin natural colour obtained?

Beetroot juice contains up to 70% sugar and 0.5% betanin pigment. It is pasteurised to reduce micro-organisms. Usually colour content is increased by fermenting the juice and removing the alcohol during concentration. Beetroot juice is also spray dried on to a carrier to produce betanin powder. It’s a strong colour hence low dosages are sufficient in final application.

Which applications is betanin natural colour used in?

A natural colour pigment, betanin is used in food and beverage colour applications. Redbeet juice concentrates are ideally used for cold applications like ice creams, yoghurts, frozen desserts and instant beverages. This depends on the regulation in the respective region and whether the redbeet is in liquid or powder format.

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