Beyond Color — How Spirulina Extract enriches Dry Beverage?

 

——History and Key Drivers of Dry Beverage

 

The development of dry beverages (solid beverages or powdered drinks).
In 1906, Ovomaltine took Switzerland by storm and spread to the world beyond. In 1957, Tang was the leading brand in their powdered drink. In recent years, solid beverages have evolved from a “cheap and quick” method of adding flavor to water or milk into a value-added premium segment.

 

Due to consumer’s demand of sustainable packaging, convenient, functional nutrition and natural ingredients. Countries have established regulations governing natural pigments below.

Region	Related regulations
EU	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 define “color additives” and distinguish coloring foods (food-derived pigments) from synthetic additives, encouraging the use of natural sources.
USA (FDA)	The FDA restricts the term “natural” to products without synthetic or chemically modified pigments. Under 21 CFR §73.530, spirulina extract (color additive from Arthrospira platensis) is authorized as a color additive in a range of foods — including beverage mixes and powders. The regulation also states that spirulina extract is exempt from batch certification and lists the permitted uses and restrictions. Under 21 CFR §73.250 covers the color additive “fruit juice” .
Japan (JETRO)	Spirulina color is an approved additive under the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Specification and Standards for Food and Food additives.
Korea (KFAC)	Spirulina Color is also approved for use as a color additive in Korea, under Korea Food Additives Code (KFAC).
China	Under GB 2760-2024,specifies permitted natural pigments, application ranges, and maximum levels, supporting replacement of synthetic dyes with botanical alternatives.

 

Supported by advances in extraction technologies and stricter color additive regulations promoting natural ingredients, the integration of color & nutrition is expected to define the next generation of solid and functional beverages.

 

——Why Dry Beverages will be Popular Again?

 

Dry beverages are gaining renewed popularity as consumers seek healthier, more sustainable, and convenient options.

Compared to RTD and Dry Beverages, dry beverages offer the following advantages,

1. The packaging of dry beverages will be more environmentally friendly.
2. The energy consumption of dry beverages will be significantly reduced during transportation.
3. The shelf life of dry beverages will be longer.
4. Dry beverages are more effective in preserving sensitive bioactive compounds and natural pigments such as proteins, anthocyanins, and phycocyanin in powdered drinks.

 

BINMEI is committed to unlock natural colors, enrich colorful life. Among the products, Spirulina Extract, not only has coloring performance, but can also be a functional powdered drink.

——Formulation Challenges of Natural Colors in Dry beverage

 

While dry beverages can retain more natural ingredients and improve the natural pigment for beverages, natural pigments still face challenges —— Stablilty, solubility and dispersion, color integrity.

First of all, Color is not only decoration.

Before changing, it’s important that color has a positive impact on the senses and takes the emotional experience for consumers. In solid beverages, color directly influences flavor, freshness, and quality. For example, a soft blue hue evokes freshness and calmness. While vivid orange and red hues make us feel energetic and enthusiastic.

 

 

For powdered drinks, it has three stages to control the stability of color.

• Dry powder stage —— ensures that the natural colorant remains stable in dry mix during transportation and storage. Ensure consistency in batch-to-batch for powder drinks.
• During dissolving stage —— ensures easy dissolution and a uniform solution during the dissolution process.
• After dissolving stage —— preserves brightness and color integrity during consumption.

 

Powdered drinks may experience a phase separation effect, in which pigments and other components may separate due to differences in density. Therefore, It’s high formulation demands that R&D produce dry mix with uniform particle size or diameter, thereby ensuring consistent distribution of color, flavor and composition.

 

——BINMEI’s Technical Solutions

 

As your partner for colors, BINMEI will provide scientific and technical assistance on natural pigments for beverages to address these formulation challenges.

• Light Stability: Blue spirulina for solid beverages retains its bright blue tone under shelf-life at room temperature and lighting conditions druing retail.
• Controlled particle size: Available in various mesh sizes and specifications to ensure even blending with other dry ingredients.
• Excellent solubility and dispersion: Uniform natural colorant with no floating particles or precipitation after mixing dissolution.
• Shelf-life verification: Simulated 12-month shelf-life tests show stable color and nutritional quality in dry beverage systems.
• Data and formulation support: BINMEI offers compatibility reports, stability data, and technical consultation to help brands accelerate product development.

 

 

——Formulation Challenges for Natural Pigments in Dry Beverages

 

Under the global rise of health awareness, consumer expectations for beverages have evolved from simple thirst-quenching to a pursuit of nature, functional benefits, and aesthetic appeal. Today’s consumers want drinks that not only ‘look good’ but also ‘do good’ for their health. So, the revival of dry beverages provides an ideal stage for blue spirulina to show its advantages.

Phycocyanin, a natural pigment-protein derived from blue-green algae, it has not only vivid blue hue, but also rich nutritional properties. Its protein contains abundant amino acids and phycobiliproteins, offering antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulating benefits. In dry beverage applications, spirulina extract not only offers a bright and pure blue, enhancing visual appeal and natural aesthetics, but also maintains high stability and bioactivity in powder form, supporting functional nutrition effectively.

In addition, blue spirulina, as an ideal ingredient, is suitable for clean-label beverage mix, vegan, and natural-nutrition concepts. By combining natural origin, functional efficacy, and sustainable well-being, blue spirulina embodies the next evolution of health-driven beverages—healthier, more natural, more creative.

 

——Dry Beverage Applications of Spirulina Extract

 

Today, more applications have expanded into categories like immunity boosters, nutritional shakes, and plant-based supplements, confirming phycocyanin in powdered drinks role as a natural bridge between color, health, and convenience in modern beverage development.

Here are some relevant product examples:

Apogen® Probiotics Granules — It is a patented protein extracted from Spirulina that contains active compound including Allophycocyanin(APC), C-phycocyanin(CPC), spirulina growth factor, sulfated polysaccharide, peptide, nucleic acid, amino acids and trace elements.

KOS — It is a naturally intense blue/green color that’s ideal to replace artificial dyes with a functional ingredient. Featured in Celebrity Erewhon Smoothies, this ingredient is Superfood to the Stars.

Unicorn Superfoods — Blue Spirulina (Phycocyanin) is a blue pigment derived from blue-green algae. It’s rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, iron, carotenoids and antioxidants. Blue Spirulina not only adds a beautiful natural color to your smoothies, bowls, and recipes but also offers a wealth of health benefits.

At BINMEI, we not only provide natural colors, but also dedicate to create distinctive vaule for our partners and consumers. Combining continuous R&D team and market trend, we bring creative solutions that go beyond traditional applications for customers. As the natural blue colorant among the three primary colors, BINMEI phycocyanin can be combined with anthocyanins, curcumin, and β-carotene in our formulation solutions.

The future of dry beverages lies in the synergy of natural, functional, and sustainable innovation. By combining natural colors, functional nutrients, and eco-friendly formats, powdered drinks are evolving into products that are healthier, more colorful and more sustainable — perfectly aligned with modern consumer values.