The use of turmeric oleoresin as a coloring and flavoring agent in food and beverages

Turmeric oleoresin is obtained by the extraction of roots of Curcuma longa Linn, processed with volatile solvents such as methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol, etc. It is typically a spice oleoresin that mainly constitutes of 15% to 20% of curcumin, obtained from the ground rhizomes of turmeric. Turmeric oleoresin is available in yellow to dark red-brown paste, lumps, powder or liquid form. It finds significant application in the food industry as a flavoring agent. Owing to its soluble characteristics, turmeric oleoresin finds high usage as a food additive in various cuisines across the globe. Countries such as India, China and Brazil are the major manufacturing hubs for turmeric oleoresin and thus, are the market leaders. CMI predicts the global turmeric oleoresin market to grow at a healthy growth rate owing to shifting consumer preference towards use of natural oleoresins.

Turmeric oleoresin is mostly made up of 15 to 20% curcumin, which is extracted from the crushed rhizomes of turmeric. It comes in a variety of forms, including yellow to dark red-brown paste, liquid, powder, and lumps. Turmeric oleoresin is frequently utilised in the food sector as a flavour ingredient. Due to its soluble properties, it is also becoming more widely utilised as a culinary ingredient in a variety of cuisines. Furthermore, because to its longer shelf life, demand for turmeric oleoresin is predicted to rise globally. Brazil, China, and India are the leading producers of turmeric oleoresin and, as a result, the market leaders.

Turmeric oleoresin is a cost-effective alternative to ground spices. Turmeric, Indian bay leaves, vanilla, thyme, savoury (summer/winter), sage, rosemary, pimenta (allspice), pepper (black/white), parsley, nutmeg, marjoram, mace, ginger, labdanum, jambu, fenugreek, clove bud, fir balsam, celery seed, cardamom, cinnamon bark, basil, and capsicum are some of the spices used to make (paprika). Turmeric oleoresin, turmeric oil, turmeric tincture, and turmeric extract are the four preparations now used as feed additives. In the European Union, however, they have not been evaluated as feed additives (EU).

Turmeric oleoresin is widely used as a natural colorant in a variety of food and beverages, such as pickles, salad dressings, cereals, dairy products, and bakery products. Thus, the demand for turmeric oleoresin has increased with a rapid pace. For example, India exported US$ 4 million worth of turmeric oleoresin goods to Germany in 2018. The major buyers of turmeric oleoresin form India are Iran, Germany, and the U.S.