Cochineal/ Carmine

Orange – Red – Violet – Purple

Cochineal Carmine, carminic acid, Carmine Lake

Carmine is a natural colorant derived from the cochineal insect Dactylopius Coccus Costa which grows on cacti in Central and South America. Nowadays a large part of the cochineal comes from Peru where it grows in nature as well as on plantations due to the ideal climate of the country. 

Out of cochineal with water extraction a solution of Carminic acid is obtained. With further purification a stable water soluble Carminic acid is obtained. When Carminic acid reacts with calcium and aluminum a Carmine lakes are obtained.

Cochineal extract and carmine are natural anthraquinone red colors.Depending on the extraction method, water or alcohol different shades of the carmine pigment can be obtained, ranging from bright “strawberry” magenta red in low PH to “blackcurrant” purple in high PH. Carmine has excellent heat and light stability and is used as food coloring in; processed fish and meat, confectionary, dairy, bakery, snacks, juice drinks and healthcare & cosmetics. Specifically for cosmetic applications BioconColors’ Carmine line is NATURE approved. Also take a look at our Carmine based color blends.

 

Nature approved Carmine , Biocon Carmine

Product Categories

Carmine lake

Characteristics of Carmine Lake

The carmine is obtained by precipitation of carminic acid with calcium and aluminum

  • Soluble in alkali solutions
  • Color shade: Pink to Violet
  • Temperature stability: Excellent
  • Light stability: Excellent
  • Main applications: Carmine can be used in a wide variety of food applications

Carmine Powder

Low Tinctorials

  • Product appearance: Fine red powder
  • Obtained by precipitation of carminic acid with calcium and aluminum
  • Completely soluble in dilute alkali solution, insoluble in water
  • Low tinctorial strength
  • Carminic acid content: 25 – 60%
  • A range of Carmine NF products are available, each with a specific color shade:
  • Biocon Carmine NF – 100 series, color shade: Low Red
    Biocon Carmine NF – 200 series, color shade: Red Yellowish
    Biocon Carmine NF – 300 series, color shade: Red Bluish
    Biocon Carmine NF – 400 series, color shade: Violet 
  • Main applications: Meat, surimi, snacks and cosmetics
  • Commercial name: Biocon Carmine NF / BPC range

High Tinctorials

  • Product appearance: Extra fine red powder
  • Obtained by precipitation of carminic acid with calcium and aluminum
  • Completely soluble in dilute alkali solution, insoluble in water
  • High tinctorial strength
  • Carminic acid content: 25 – 55%
  • Color shade provided: Red Yellowish to Red Bluish
  • Main applications: Meat, Cosmetics & Pharmaceutical
  • Commercial name: Biocon Carmine RY / RB / HR / HRB range

Carmine Liquid

Water Miscible

  • Product appearance: Purple liquid
  • Aqueous solution of carmine, stabilized in alkali solution and when required also in emulsifier
  • Completely miscible in water
  • Carminic acid content: 2 – 20%
  • Color shade provided: Red Yellowish to Red Bluish
  • Main applications: Meat, yogurt, milk drinks, ice creams, confectionery and pastry
  • Commercial name: Biocolor range

Carmine Suspension

  • Product appearance: Viscous red liquid
  • Carmine lake stabilized in emulsifier
  • Dispersible in fat
  • Carminic acid content: 4 – 20%
  • Color shade provided: Strawberry Red
  • Main applications: Fish meat, confectionery, desserts
  • Commercial name: Biocon OS range

Carminic Acid

Characteristics of Carminic acid

 

  • Obtained through aqueous extraction of the cochineal
  • Soluble in water, acids and alkali solutions
  • Color shade provided: Orange to Violet, depending on pH
  • Temperature stability: Excellent
  • Light stability: Excellent
  • Main applications: Beverages

Powder

Carminic Acid Cristallized

  • Product appearance: Fine orange reddish powder
  • Crystallized coloring pigment extracted from cochineal
  • Completely soluble in water
  • Carminic Acid Content: Min. 90%
  • Color shade provided: Orange to Voilet, depending on pH
  • Main applications: beverages (fruit juiches) and confectionery
  • Commercial name: Biocon Carminic Acid – CR

Carminic Acid Spray Dried

  • Product appearance: Dark brown powder
  • Spray dried aqueous solution of coloring pigments extracted from cochineal standardized with carrier
  • Completely soluble in water
  • Carminic Acid Content: Min. 90%
  • Color shade provided: Orange to Voilet, depending on pH
  • Main applications: beverages (fruit juiches) and confectionery
  • Commercial name: Biocon Carminic Acid – SD

Liquid

Acid Proof

There are two types of acid proof products:

Type 1
  • Product appearance: Red liquid
  • Solution obtained from aqueous extraction of cochineal stabilized in emulsifiers
  • Completely miscible in water
  • Carminic acid content: 3 – 7.5%
  • Color shade: Orange
  • Main applications: Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, fruit juices, confectionery and yogurts
  • Commercial name: Biocon Carmine APC / APC – PCN range

 

Type 2
  • Product appearance: Red liquid
  • Solution obtained from aqueous extraction of cochineal stabilized in emulsifiers
  • Completely miscible in water
  • Carminic acid content: Max. 3 – 7.5%
  • Color shade provided: Magenta to Red-Orange
  • Main applications: Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, fruit juices, yogurts, milk drinks, ice creams, confectionery, pastry and pharmaceuticals
  • Commercial name: Biocon Carmine APC – RAZ / APC – RAM range

 

RAZ and RAM are type 2 products which contain 4-Amino Carminic Acid as principle colouring and according EU Regulation are not allowed to be labelled as E120 and used in Europe. For usage outside Europe recommended to consult the respective local legislation.

Please feel free to contact us for any questions you may have

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