There are, by my count, at least seven levels of fried chicken. The worst of them is good; the best, which I waited forty-four years to find, led to what can only be called an out-of-body experience. Let’s start at …
Sources of Natural Colors in Foods
Sources of natural colors in food come in several forms: seeds, vegetables, fruits, flowers, leaves and even insects. Compared to synthetic additives, natural food coloring is safer and has no direct harmful effects to humans; however, people with allergies should take note of the source of these colors, as some of the sources may trigger allergic reactions. Add this to my Recipe Box.
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Red
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Cochineal, carmine, paprika, beet root, lycopene and monascus are some of the natural red food dyes available. In commercial form, this natural coloring comes in powder and liquid, while some, like paprika, come in spray form. Paprika and beet root may be used in their natural state, but they may also alter the food's taste. Cochineal is a kind of bug; using it may send somebody with allergies into anaphylactic shock, so it's always best to make it as one of the last options to use.
Yellow
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Annato, turmeric, beta carotene, carotenoids, gardenia, iron oxides, marigold extract and lutein are some of the natural yellow food colors. All these natural additives provide varying shades of yellow. They come in liquid, powder and paste forms. Turmeric may alter the food's taste, but its medicinal properties are often beneficial as well. Annato, on the other hand, may cause allergies for some people.
Blue
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You can use gardenia when looking for a natural food coloring in the shade of blue. This particular natural dye comes from the gardenia fruit and is commercially available in liquid form, often used for coloring dessert frosting. Another possible natural source of blue is the alga spirulina, but its color is weaker than gardenia.
Green
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Green gardenia and chlorophyll are two natural dye sources having a green shade. They are both available commercially in liquid form; however, chlorophyll is not an advisable food coloring and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only allows it for cosmetics and certain drugs. On the other hand, green gardenia is safe as a food coloring.
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