Capsicum Oleoresin
Capsicum Oleoresin is a viscous, deep red-brown solvent extract of dried ripe fruits of Capsicum annuum and related cultivars. The single material carries both the pungent capsaicinoid fraction and the lipophilic carotenoid colour fraction.
Because both fractions travel together in the same oleoresin, the product is used where formulators want heat and warm red-orange colour from one ingredient.
We source bulk Capsicum Oleoresin from top China manufacturers for our partners, working with several of them. The manufacturers are mostly in Hebei, Shandong and Yunnan. A smaller requirement can ship in a combined container with other ingredients.
Please send the grade you need, the volume and your destination port, and we will come back with a solution and a price.
or call +86-21-6858 0751
- Packaging
- 25 kg galvanised drum, nitrogen blanketed
- ISO 9001
- HACCP
- Halal
- Kosher
Specifications
Grades / Types Available: Food Grade
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Dark red viscous oil |
| Colour Value (CU) | 40,000-100,000+ CU |
| Capsaicin Content | 0.1-10% (grade-dependent) |
| Scoville Heat Units | Grade-dependent |
| Solvent Residue | ≤ 30 mg/kg |
| Heavy Metals (as Pb) | ≤ 2 mg/kg |
| Purity/Assay | Capsaicin content: 10% min |
| Moisture/Loss on Drying | 0.5% max |
| pH | 5.0 - 7.0 |
| Lead | 1 ppm max |
| Arsenic | 1 ppm max |
| Total Plate Count | 1000 cfu/g max |
| Yeast & Mold | 100 cfu/g max |
Common Markets Grades
Capsicum Oleoresin is sold against two specifications at once: Scoville Heat Units (SHU) for pungency and colour value (CV) in ASTA units or colour value units for tint strength.
Typical pungent grades run from 250,000 SHU up to 1,000,000 SHU, with 500,000 SHU and 1 million SHU the most widely traded crude oleoresins.
Colour-leaning grades hold most of their carotenoids and report 40,000 to 100,000 CV alongside a moderate 100,000 to 250,000 SHU.
Standardised blends are diluted in refined vegetable oil, propylene glycol, or mono- and diglycerides to meet a customer-specified SHU and CV pair.
Applications
- Sauces and condiments where the formulator wants both heat and a deep red-orange tone in one drop
- Snack seasonings for extruded corn snacks, kettle chips, and nut coatings
- Sausage, salami, chorizo, and processed-meat rubs
- Ready meals, instant noodle sachets, and retort curries
- Marinades, spice oils, and chili-infused cooking oils
- Soups, broths, and bouillon cubes for warming chili character
- Pickle brines and fermented vegetable products
- Plant-based meat analogues that need both colour and bite
- Cheese spreads and processed-cheese slices in pepper-jack styles
- Pet food palatants and treat coatings
Brands Using Capsicum Oleoresin
Widely-distributed consumer products that list Capsicum Oleoresin on the ingredient label.
- Trader Joe'sChili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips ↗Ingredient list (hot chili & lime seasoning) includes 'paprika extract [color]' and 'oleoresin capsicum'Label verified 2026-05-24
- Tiger BalmPain Relieving Patch (Large) ↗Active ingredient: 'Capsicum Extract (46mg/patch)', capsicum oleoresinLabel verified 2026-05-24
- Dave's GourmetDave's Insanity Sauce ↗Ingredient list includes 'hot pepper extract' (capsicum oleoresin), landmark sauce that pioneered use of capsicum oleoresin in 1993Label verified 2026-05-24
Brand names, product names and logos are the property of their owners. They appear here as published evidence that the ingredient is used, taken from the brand's own label or website. Their appearance is not an endorsement, and it does not mean the brand buys from us or from any manufacturer listed on this site.
China Manufacturers of Capsicum Oleoresin
Top Capsicum Oleoresin manufacturers in China.
Chenguang Biotech Group Co., Ltd.12 ingredients in the directory
Guangdong Tiansheng Food Technology Co., Ltd.8 ingredients in the directory
Guizhou Xuande Bio-technology Corp., Ltd.1 ingredient in the directory- Hebei Chuwanjia Food Co., Ltd.3 ingredients in the directory
- Hebei Hongri Natural Pigment Co., Ltd.4 ingredients in the directory
Qingdao Borong Biotechnology Co., Ltd.10 ingredients in the directory
Qingdao Scitech Biotech Co., Ltd.11 ingredients in the directory
Shijiazhuang Zhengwei Xuan Food Technology Co., Ltd.1 ingredient in the directory- Synthite (Dezhou) Biotech Co., Ltd.4 ingredients in the directory
- Tianxu Natural Pigment Co., Ltd.6 ingredients in the directory
- Xinjiang Tianjiao Hong'An Seeds Sci.& Tech. Co., Ltd.2 ingredients in the directory
Yunnan Baiyao Group Chinese Medicinal Resources Division1 ingredient in the directory- Yunnan Honglv Capsaicin Co., Ltd.3 ingredients in the directory
Yunnan Yunspicy Biotechnology Co., Ltd.1 ingredient in the directory
Zunyi Zhongjiao Biotechnology Co., Ltd.2 ingredients in the directory
Company names and logos are the property of the manufacturers themselves. They are listed here because our own directory records them as producing this ingredient. A listing is not an endorsement by them, and we do not represent them or speak on their behalf.
How We Help Source Capsicum Oleoresin
Direct Factory Sourcing
We run the whole process: selecting the manufacturer from the top Chinese food ingredient producers, negotiating the price, verifying quality, and coordinating the logistics. You deal with us instead of with several factories at once.
Original Packaging and Documents from the Manufacturer
The manufacturer sends your Capsicum Oleoresin out of its own factory in the original packing, through to your destination port. The COA, COO, MSDS, TDS and any certifications reach you from the manufacturer as well.
Free Samples and Lead Time
We send 100 to 500 g free for your own laboratory to test and you cover only the courier, usually within 2 to 3 working days. ETD is usually within 7 to 15 days once the order is confirmed, and we check that date against the factory's own manufacturing schedule before we give it to you.
Combined Shipment
We can load Capsicum Oleoresin together with other ingredients such as Ethyl Maltol, White Pepper and Beef Flavour into one 20' FCL. If your quantity is small, we can also ship LCL.
Regulatory Status
Capsicum Oleoresin is a long-established flavour and colour ingredient in most regulated markets.
In the European Union it is treated as a flavouring extract under Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 and, for its colour contribution, falls under the paprika extract entry E160c when the source is sweet capsicum. Pungent capsicum oleoresins used purely for flavour are regulated as natural flavouring preparations.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists capsicum and its oleoresin under 21 CFR 182.20 as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in food.
JECFA has reviewed capsicum extracts as flavouring agents and raised no safety concern at the levels used in food.
Residual solvent limits for hexane, ethanol, and acetone follow the relevant pharmacopoeial and food-extraction-solvent directives in each market.
Manufacturing Process
Production begins with dried red capsicum pods, usually a blend of cultivars chosen to hit a target SHU and colour band. Common feedstocks include Indian Sannam (S4 and S5), Teja, Byadgi, and Chinese Xinjiang chilies.
The pods are cleaned, ground, and extracted with a food-grade solvent. Hexane is the standard solvent for colour-rich grades, while ethanol or acetone is used where a different impurity profile is wanted.
The miscella is filtered and the solvent is stripped under vacuum in a falling-film or wiped-film evaporator. Residual solvent is then removed to within food-grade limits.
The crude oleoresin is finally standardised to a customer SHU and CV target by blending with refined vegetable oil or with a higher-strength lot.
