Gardenia Blue: The Industry Standard for Heat-Stable, pH-Resistant Natural Color

Product Overview

In the rapidly evolving food and beverage industry, the demand for Clean Label ingredients has never been higher. Manufacturers are moving away from synthetic dyes like Brilliant Blue FCF (Blue No. 1) to meet consumer expectations for natural, plant-based products. However, finding a natural blue pigment that can withstand industrial processing has historically been a challenge for food scientists—until now.

Gardenia Blue is the ultimate solution. Extracted from the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, this premium natural pigment bridges the gap between nature and performance. Unlike Spirulina (which fades under heat) or Butterfly Pea Flower (which shifts color with pH), Gardenia Blue offers unrivaled stability, ensuring your products maintain their vivid, appealing color from the factory to the consumer’s hand.

Why Gardenia Blue? Solving the “Natural Blue” Dilemma

Formulating with natural blue has traditionally required compromise. R&D teams often face fading colors during baking, precipitation in acidic drinks, or unwanted color shifts. Gardenia Blue eliminates these compromises through its unique molecular structure.

1. Superior Heat Stability (Up to 120°C+)

Heat is the enemy of most natural pigments. Phycocyanin (Spirulina), the most common competitor, is a protein-based pigment that denatures and fades significantly when temperatures exceed 60°C.

• • The Gardenia Advantage: Our Gardenia Blue is incredibly robust. It withstands temperatures of 100°C to 120°C for extended periods (30-60 minutes) without significant color degradation.

• • Ideal For: Baked goods (cookies, cakes, macarons), boiled hard candies, and UHT pasteurized dairy products.

2. Full pH Consistency (No Color Shifting)

Many plant-based anthocyanins act as pH indicators, turning purple or pink in acidic environments. This makes them unsuitable for lemon-flavored beverages or sour gummies where a “True Blue” is required.

• • The Gardenia Advantage: Gardenia Blue maintains a stable, deep blue hue across a wide pH spectrum (pH 2.0 – 8.0). Whether your matrix is acidic, neutral, or slightly alkaline, the color remains true.

• • Ideal For: Sports drinks, carbonated beverages, sour gummies, and jelly.

3.Light & Solubility Performance

In addition to heat and pH, Gardenia Blue offers excellent water solubility, creating clear, transparent solutions without turbidity or precipitation. It also demonstrates moderate light stability, performing better than many fruit-based extracts in shelf-life tests.

Technical Data Sheet