INTRODUCTION

Colouring agents are those agents which are used to colour the dishes and to give them attractive and eye appealing appearance.

Food coloring, or color additive, is any dye, pigment or substance that imparts color when it is added to food or drink. They come in many forms consisting of liquids, powders, gels, and pastes. Food coloring is used both in commercial food production and in domestic cooking.

A number of food colourings are obtained in either powder or liquid form. 

it can be divided into two categories:

  1. Natural colouring agents
  2. Artificial colouring agents

 NATURAL COLOURING AGENTS:

  1. Cochineal: It is a red colour, produced from the cochineal beetle. it is used in pastry and confectionery work.
  2. Green colouring: This can be made by mixing indigo, and saffron, but chlorophyll, the natural green colouring of plants, such as in spinach, may also be used.
  3. Indigo:  This is the blue colour seldom used on its own, but which, when mixed with red, produces shades of mauve.
  4. Yellow colouring: a deep yellow colour can be obtained from turmeric roots and is prepared in the form of a powder mainly used in curry and mustard pickles. Yellow is also obtained by using egg yolks or saffron. 
  5. Brown:  Brown sugar is used to give a deep brown colour in rich fruit cakes, it is also added to enhance the flavour.
  6. Blackjack or Browning:  Blackjack or commercial caramel is a dark brown, almost black liquid and is used for colouring soups, sauces, gravies, aspics and in pastry and confectionery.
  7. Chocolate:  this can be obtained in liquid or powder form, and is used in pastries and confectionery.
  8. Coffee colour:  This is usually made from coffee beans with the addition of chicory. 

ARTIFICIAL COLOURING AGENTS

A large range of artificial colours are also obtainable, they are produced from coal tar and are haffilles. some mineral colours are also used in foodstuffs. All colouring must be pure and there is a list of those permitted for cookery and confectionery use.

Click on link to know how to make natural food colours: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR2YAqpEtMU