Phycocyanin: Natural Blue Colorants

"LINABLUE"

Color & Display

Healthcare

Color

"LINABLUE" is a vivid blue food colorant derived from spirulina algae, extracted using only water from spirulina—often referred to as the king of superfoods.

About Products
DIC's Advantages
Major Applications
Product Lineup

About Phycocyanin: Natural Blue Colorants

Product image of Linablue, an algae-derived blue colorant (phycocyanin)

DIC’s algae-derived blue colorant "LINABLUE", made from Spirulina (a “superfood”), is extracted using only water.
Its main component, phycocyanin, is a photosynthesis-related pigment in which phycocyanobilin is bound to a protein. In addition to its vivid blue color, it has attracted attention as an ingredient reported to support health and beauty.
With a production process that uses no organic solvents and compliance with major food standards in the U.S., Europe, and other regions, "LINABLUE" is a globally available, naturally derived blue colorant. It has a proven track record across a wide range of food categories, including ice cream, gum, and candy.

Raw materials, extraction method (water extraction with no organic solvents), and key characteristics of "LINABLUE", a spirulina-derived blue colorant
Key Characteristics of Phycocyanin and Its Applications as a Food Colorant and Health Ingredient
Safety and regulatory compliance with major food standards in the U.S., Europe, and other regions, along with proven global adoption
Blue coloring for ice cream, gum, and candy, plus examples of applications and use cases in the healthcare/functional ingredient field

Keywords:

Phycocyanin (algae-derived blue colorant) LINABLUE Spirulina-derived pigment Natural derived blue colorant Food colorant (blue) Water extraction / no organic solvents Superfood: Spirulina Ice cream, gum, candy Compliant with U.S./EU food standards Healthcare / functional ingredient Spirulina blue

DIC's Advantages

"LINABLUE", a blue pigment derived from spirulina algae, is a DIC-exclusive edible blue colorant extracted using water-based processes. It combines vivid coloration with a high level of safety. In addition to its use as a colorant, ”LINABLUE” enables proposals that highlight the functional properties of phycocyanin.

Water-extracted blue food colorant

A blue pigment extracted with water from Spirulina, widely known as a “superfood,” enabling product concepts that emphasize a natural positioning.
Produced without organic solvents, supporting a clean label image and ensuring reliability as a food ingredient.
Delivers a vivid blue color at low addition levels of approximately 0.01–0.1%, and is also suitable for blending with other colorants.

Safety, standards compliance, and extensive use record

Compliant with U.S. and European food standards and supplied globally as a material supported by comprehensive safety evaluations.
Proven use across a wide range of foods, especially confectionery and desserts such as ice cream, gum, and candy.
As a phycocyanin-based material associated with health and beauty maintenance, it can also support product concepts that emphasize functionality.

Support in coordination with DIC Healthcare Business

In coordination with the DIC Healthcare Business website, we provide information tailored to your product concept from both color material and health ingredient perspectives.
We support smooth product adoption through catalogs and technical documentation, including information on color design and formulation.
Consultation is available on applications and use approaches aligned with your target markets, ranging from reformulation of existing products to new product development.

Reliability Information (E-E-A-T)

Supervised by: Color Materials Products Division, Healthcare & Foods Group
The latest revised versions of documents required for evaluation (product specification sheets, SDS, standards information, application examples, etc.) are provided to customers upon request.
Related information: Main Applications / Product Lineup / Catalogs & Resources / DIC Healthcare Business (Spirulina Blue: B2B Page)

DIC Healthcare

Explore a wide range of useful information on the DIC Healthcare Business website.

We offer healthcare food–focused insights, ranging from functional ingredients such as spirulina, phycocyanin, and algal DHA to scientific evidence and the latest market trends.

Visit the DIC Healthcare website for more information.

Major Applications

Confectionery & Dessert Applications

Image of confectionery applications such as ice cream and candy colored with Linablue

Achieve a vivid, natural blue color with a small dosage

”LINABLUE” is a blue food colorant extracted from Spirulina using water, and it is widely used in confectionery applications such as ice cream, gum, and candy. Because no organic solvents are used, it is also suitable for products that aim for clean-label formulations.

Main applications: Ice cream, frozen desserts, gum, candy, gummies, jelly, and more
Key feature: Delivers a vivid blue color at low addition levels of approximately 0.01–0.1%
Standards: A spirulina-derived blue colorant compliant with U.S. and European food standards

Ice cream and frozen desserts Gum and candy Jelly and gummies Spirulina-derived blue colorant

Visit the DIC Healthcare Business Website

Beverage & Dairy Applications

Image of beverages and dairy products colored with Linablue®

For concept-driven color design in beverages and dairy products

"LINABLUE" creates a fresh, vibrant blue even in soft drinks, milk beverages, and yogurt drinks. By combining it with other colorants, a wide range of color designs—such as turquoise, green, and purple tones—can also be achieved.

Main Applications: Soft drinks, milk beverages, yogurt drinks, and more
Key feature: Excellent dispersibility in beverages due to its water-based nature
Design examples: Diverse color concepts developed through blending with other colorants

Soft drinks Milk-based beverages Drinkable yogurt Concept color design

Visit the DIC Healthcare Business Website

DIC Healthcare

Explore a wide range of useful information on the DIC Healthcare Business website.

We offer healthcare food–focused insights, ranging from functional ingredients such as spirulina, phycocyanin, and algal DHA to scientific evidence and the latest market trends.

Visit the DIC Healthcare website for more information.

Product Lineup

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Below are answers to the questions we receive most often about ”LINABLUE", a Spirulina-derived blue colorant.

Abbreviations and Terminology Guide

This is a guide to the abbreviations and terms frequently used on this website.

LINABLUE: The product name for a blue food colorant extracted from Spirulina using water.
Phycocyanin: A photosynthesis-related pigment formed by the binding of phycocyanobilin and protein. The primary component of this blue pigment "LINABLUE".
Spirulina: An edible cyanobacterium (blue-green algae) known as a “superfood.” The raw material used for "LINABLUE".
Water Extraction (No Organic Solvents): An extraction method that uses only water and no organic solvents, supporting clean-label formulation design.
Confectionery & Dessert Applications: Creating blue tones in products such as ice cream, gum, and candy, delivering vivid color with a small dosage.
Beverage & Dairy Applications: Applicable to color design for soft drinks, milk-based beverages, and drinkable yogurt products.
Concept Colors (Turquoise / Green Tones): Diverse color design achieved by blending with other colorants.
Food Standards (U.S., Europe, etc.): Ingredient design and compliance management aligned with major regional food standards.
Spirulina Blue: A common name for Spirulina-derived blue colorants; used as an alternative expression for "LINABLUE".