How to Choose the Right Specifications and Dosage Forms of Phycocyanin?
— A Practical Purchase & Application Guide for R&D and Procurement Teams
In the natural food coloring industry, achieving a stable and vibrant blue has long been a technical challenge. As global demand for clean-label and plant-based ingredients continues to rise—and with more regulatory authorities approving spirulina-derived natural blue—phycocyanin has become the leading natural alternative to synthetic FD&C Blue No.1/FD&C Blue No. 2.
Extracted from Spirulina platensis, phycocyanin delivers intense blue coloration and excellent water solubility, enabling broad use across beverages, frozen desserts, confectionery, nutraceuticals, dairy, and plant-based dosage forms.
However, even high-quality phycocyanin exhibits different behaviors across product matrices. These variations arise not only from the pigment’s sensitivity to pH, heat, and light, but, more importantly, from a single critical factor:
👉 Choosing the right phycocyanin specifications and dosage forms.
This guide provides R&D and procurement teams with a practical decision-making framework to select appropriate phycocyanin specifications and dosage forms for different applications, with actionable insights that help brands optimize stability, color performance, and cost efficiency.
Understanding Phycocyanin Specifications (E-values)
Not all phycocyanin ingredients perform the same. Differences in specifications, especially the Phycocyanin E-value levels, directly influence color intensity, clarity, stability, and application suitability.
Phycocyanin Grade Performance Table
| E-value | Color intensity | Heat stability | pH stability | Applications | Protein content |
| E10 | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | Dry mixes, bakery | 25% |
| E18 | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Beverages, dairy | 38% |
| E30 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | Capsules, tablets | 65% |
| E3 (custom) | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Acidic drinks | 8% |
How to Choose the Right E-value for Your Application (Quick Guide)
- E10 – Moderate color intensity and good general stability; ideal for solid beverages and premixes.
- E18 – Best balance of color strength, stability, and cost; most commonly used in beverages and dairy.
- E30 – High-purity, brilliant blue; ideal for nutraceuticals and premium applications requiring mild processing.
- E3 (Functional Grade) – Purpose-designed for acidic beverages and hot-fill systems; provides improved pH and heat tolerance.
Practical Tip: A higher E-value offers a more vibrant color, but also increases sensitivity to processing stress. Higher purity does not always mean better real-world stability. For most beverage applications, the specification E18 remains the most versatile and cost-effective choice.
>>>Explore Phycocyanin E18 Specification
Understanding Phycocyanin Dosage Forms
Sourcing the correct phycocyanin dosage forms is as important as selecting the right phycocyanin specifications.
Different product formats and processing conditions require tailored systems to improve phycocyanin color stability under pH changes and heat stability across food and beverage applications.
Below is an overview of the applicability of different phycocyanin dosage forms:
1. Powdered Dosage Forms — Best for Dry Mixes & Bakery
Powdered phycocyanin offers high concentration and good storage stability, making it suitable for:
- Dry mixes
- Tablets
- Bakery premixes
2. Liquid Concentrates — Best for Dairy & Beverages, ＆ Gummy
Liquid dosage forms offer excellent dispersibility and are widely used in:
- RTD beverages
- Smoothies
- Yogurt
- Ice cream
- Bubble tea
- Gummy（Candy)
Beyond traditional powder and liquid dosage forms, nano-dispersed and encapsulated phycocyanin systems are also available for applications that require improved pH or heat stability.
While these advanced delivery dosage forms offer significant functional benefits, they also come with inherent trade-offs—such as higher production costs, potential particle aggregation in certain matrices, limited compatibility with some processing conditions, and, in some cases, stricter storage requirements.
Application Matrix — Matching Specifications × Dosage Forms
Choosing the right phycocyanin requires evaluating both the specification and the dosage forms in different applications—exposing the pigment to different levels of heat, acidity, and processing stress.
To simplify this decision-making, BINMEI developed a comprehensive application matrix that integrates real project outcomes with the known behavior of phycocyanin under various processing conditions.
Phycocyanin Specification × dosage forms Matrix（including Key challenges & stability strategies）
| Application Field | Recommended Specification | Best dosage forms | Key Challenge | Stability Strategy |
| Dairy products (bubble tea, ice cream, smoothies, yogurt) | Standard YE3 | Liquid | Protein–protein interaction → flocculation or uneven dispersion | Pre-dilute before addition; add during cold stage; avoid Ca²⁺/metal exposure |
| solid beverages, bakery fillings, confectionery, ice cream concentrates | Standard E10 / E18 | Powder | More intense color but higher sensitivity to light, heat, acid, and metal ions; Risk of precipitation or color loss in acidic beverages or long storage | Use with buffers or encapsulated forms for acid, heat, and ion protection;Add post-thermal or at low temperatures to preserve color |
| Nutraceuticals & functional powders (tablets, capsules, protein powders) | E30 | Powder | High protein load → color weakening; strict purity requirements | Use E30+ for stronger chroma; optimize blending order to prevent protein interference |
| Acidic systems (juices, fruit beverages, vitamin shots, gummies , kombucha) | Customized E3/BLE2 | Acid-resistant powder/encapsulation | Strong protein denaturation at low pH → color fading & precipitation | Use acid-stable phycocyanin, apply buffering, or dose after acidification |
This matrix provides an overview of the most common applications for different phycocyanin specifications and dosage forms, summarizing typical challenges and the corresponding strategies.
Clean-Label & Regulatory Considerations
When sourcing phycocyanin, it’s not just about selecting the right specifications and dosage forms; one of the most critical considerations is the ingredient’s clean-label profile and compliance with regulations in major global markets.
The purchasing key considerations include:
- Labeling expectations (FDA, EU, EFSA, JECFA). Phycocyanin is typically declared as “Color from Spirulina” or “Spirulina Extract,” aligning with clean-label positioning and meeting regulatory requirements in most markets.
- Technical documentation for compliance specifications, E-value documentation, certificates of analysis (COA), allergen statements, and relevant stability data are frequently required for QA reviews, customer audits, and nutraceutical regulatory submissions.
Why Partner with BINMEI for Phycocyanin Solutions
As a leading global supplier of natural pigments, BINMEI provides not only raw materials but complete application-ready phycocyanin solutions.
- Complete specification portfolio (E3–E30/YE-BLE) with customized stability specifications & dosage forms.
- Advanced stability technologies for improved heat, pH, and processing resilience.
- Reliable quality & supply — preservative-free, up to 24-month shelf life, with consistent inventory availability.
- Extensive application expertise across beverages, dairy, gummies, bakery, and nutraceuticals.
- Full regulatory and technical support, including formulation guidance, stability testing, and scale-up consultation.
- Comprehensive documentation for global regulatory compliance.
Choosing a Reliable Supplier and Manufacturer is Important
At BINMEI, we provide brands with end-to-end guidance—from choosing the optimal Phycocyanin specifications and dosage forms to practical application support—helping to solve challenges related to Phycocyanin color stability, dispersion, and compatibility across various product matrices.
Additionally, we offer scientifically optimized natural color solutions to global innovators, enabling every shade of blue to come from nature—and go beyond nature.
📞 Need samples, stability testing, or formulation guidance?
Whether you need guidance on choosing specifications, selecting dosage forms, or how to use phycocyanin in your products, our technical team is ready to provide tailored support.
