What if your next plant-based beverage could achieve a stunning golden color - natural, stable, and not affect shelf life? This vision is now closer to reality.

A peer review study in the journal Food Frontier revealed that stable and bright colors can be obtained by mixing ginger yellow powder into soybean milk in one step by pH impregnation. Researchers tracked L *, a *, and b * values using a HunterLab ColorFlex EZ spectrophotometer to evaluate and confirm the stability of this natural process.

Please note: ColorFlex EZ has now been upgraded to ColorFlex L2. To achieve seamless transition and gain more advantages, more details are provided in the latter half of this article.

Key research findings

This study provides strong evidence for a practical and clean label compliant solution:

• The transfer rate of curcumin from ginger yellow to soybean milk is 94%, and the particle size and charge remain stable

• The b * values of curcumin soybean milk and curcumin soybean milk were increased by more than 40 units compared with ordinary soybean milk, showing bright golden color.

• Freeze dried curcumin soybean milk powder and curcumin soybean milk powder remained stable after 30 days storage at minus 30 ℃

These results demonstrate how the three stimulus color measurement technology effectively monitors the fusion status of natural pigments throughout the product lifecycle. More importantly, they provide a pathway for plant-based dairy products to achieve natural coloring - which is the top priority for brands focused on clean label innovation.

The significance for HunterLab customers

Targeting plant-based beverage manufacturers

This study provides a scalable approach for functional pigment delivery. By using ColorFlex L2, color consistency is maintained within the shelf life through simple desktop quality control.

Targeting turmeric and spice processors

The batch of turmeric raw materials can be validated without purifying the extract. ColorFlex L2 reading helps buyers quickly grade and locate.

Targeting nutrition and health product brands

The tag claims that support the synergistic provision of protein and curcumin. The validation of the three stimulus value data refers to the dose uniformity of the formulation.

Targeting the Food Science R&D Team

Combining pH embedding with tristimulus value tracking using a peer-reviewed protocol. This method can be replicated or extended to other plant materials

For use in quality laboratories and contract factories

Color change is the main indicator of curcumin degradation. Use ColorFlex L2 to quickly determine qualified/unqualified before packaging.

Color Science Insights: The Meaning of L *, a *, and b * Values

The Hunter L, a, b, and CIE 1976 L * a * b * (CIELAB) chromaticity coordinate systems are all based on the theory of contrasting colors, which assumes that human photoreceptor cells perceive colors through the following contrasting color pairs:

In 1976, the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) recommended the use of the CIE L * a * b * (CIELAB) color scale system. The system aims to establish a standardized and approximately uniform color scale, enabling all users to conveniently compare color values.

• The L * value represents brightness, ranging from black (0) to white (100).

• The color gamut of the a * axis ranges from green (-) to red (+).

• The b * axis ranges from blue (-) to yellow (+) color gamut.

This objective measurement method enables manufacturers to consistently maintain visual and functional quality between batches.

With ColorFlex L2 technology, manufacturers are able to ensure consistent color naturalness throughout the entire process of plant-based dairy products from production to shelving.

Why ColorFlex L2 is a better spectrophotometer for plant-based beverages

We have upgraded the trusted 45 º/0 º spectrophotometer ColorFlex EZ to the all-new ColorFlex L2. Bringing you a better user experience with seamless integration throughout the entire process! You can easily migrate the standard curves and data of ColorFlex EZ to ColorFlex L2. Adopting the xenon light source of ColorFlex EZ and the 45 °/0 ° circular lighting design, seamless integration between new and old equipment is achieved.

ColorFlex L2 is compact in size, requiring only minimal tabletop space, yet containing powerful performance, designed to meet your specific colorimetric measurement needs.

ColorFlex L2 spectrophotometer helps you reduce product waste, contribute to sustainable development goals, enhance brand image and revenue.

• Enhance user experience and repeatability, achieve tighter process control

• Improve throughput in high-yield environments

• Optimize the connectivity and data integration of modern laboratories

Designed to address the challenges of today's food, nutritional supplements, and plant-based products, ColorFlex L2 ensures that your color indicators remain consistent, reliable, and compliant at all times.

frequently asked questions

What is a better way to measure color in plant-based beverages?

Use a ColorFlex L2 spectrophotometer equipped with a 45/0 geometry to track L *, a *, and b * values for accurate and reproducible results.

Can ginger yellow raw materials provide stable color for beverages?

Okay. Related studies have shown that when measured with ColorFlex, its curcumin transfer rate reaches 94% and maintains stable color performance over time.

Why is color measurement based on three stimulus values crucial for quality control?

It provides objective quantitative evaluation criteria to ensure product consistency, detect quality degradation, and maintain product quality.

Customer Application Case: From Laboratory to Production Line

A medium-sized beverage manufacturer focuses on the production of healthy beverages based on oats and soybeans, using the ColorFlex L2 system to monitor the consistency of natural pigments. After changing the raw material to natural turmeric to make a mixed drink of turmeric and vanilla, the quality inspection team tracked the color changes of batches before and after pasteurization through L *, a *, and b * color difference values. This not only ensures color consistency, but also eliminates subjective visual inspection, allowing companies to confidently promote the "golden" color tone of beverages on labels. The laboratory uses ColorFlex L2 to optimize the quality inspection process and integrates real-time pass/fail thresholds into the production process.

Learn more

Ready to elevate color consistency to a new level? Explore how ColorFlex L2 can bring more precise quality control and higher efficiency to your plant-based beverage production line.