Crocin
The deep red pigment that gives saffron its colour
No single value: Crocin is a material, and its colour varies. The background shows its family, orange.
Crocin is a natural pigment from the carotenoid family, giving saffron its strong red hue. It appears as red crystals in pure form and turns orange when mixed with water. Crocin is found in certain flowers, and is the main source of saffron’s colour and some of its properties.
- Crocin gives saffron its strong red colour
- It forms deep red crystals that dissolve orange in water
- Found in crocus, gardenia, and Buddleja flowers
- Crocin is a carotenoid compound
- It is the main pigment in saffron
What colour is Crocin?
Crocin is a plant-based pigment from the carotenoid group, best known for giving saffron its vivid red colour. In its pure state, crocin forms deep red crystals. When added to water, it creates a bright orange solution. It is also present in some other flowers, but is most recognised for its role in saffron’s appearance.
Where does Crocin come from?
The name crocin comes from its link to saffron, which is gathered from the crocus flower. The pigment itself is a natural compound found in crocus, gardenia, and Buddleja. Its chemical structure is based on crocetin joined to sugar molecules.
How is Crocin made?
Crocin is produced naturally in certain flowers, especially the crocus used for saffron. Chemically, it is a diester made from crocetin and the sugar gentiobiose. The pigment can be extracted from plant material and purified into crystals.
Where Crocin is used
Crocin is most famous for colouring saffron, which is used in food and sometimes in art. Its strong colour means only a small amount is needed to tint dishes or materials. It is also studied for its possible health effects, but its main use is as a natural colourant.
Orange around the world
What the orange family means from country to country.
The lowest band of the flag is orange, often called apricot, after the national fruit. The constitution says it stands for the creative talent and hard work of the people.
Politics and protestNature and renewalPrideSource: Flag of ArmeniaThe flag is split corner to corner. The orange half stands for the Buddhist tradition, and the white dragon across the middle for purity.
Sacred and holySource: Flag of BhutanOn 30 September people wear orange shirts to remember the children sent to residential schools. Phyllis Webstad's new orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at one.
Mourning and deathPolitics and protestGriefSource: National Day for Truth and ReconciliationOrange is also the colour of the New Democratic Party. Its sweep of Quebec seats in the 2011 election was called the Orange Wave.
Politics and protestSource: New Democratic PartyThe flag shows the island in copper orange on white. The colour recalls copper, which was mined here in ancient times and may have taken its name from Cyprus.
Politics and protestNature and renewalSource: Flag of CyprusThe orange stripe of the flag stands for Protestants, the followers of William of Orange. In Northern Ireland the Orange Order still marches each 12 July in orange sashes.
Politics and protestSource: Orange OrderShades and relatives of Crocin
There are several related crocin compounds, which differ in the number and type of sugar groups attached. These variations can influence the exact shade and properties, but all are part of the same family of carotenoid pigments.
Questions people ask about Crocin
What colour is crocin?
Crocin is deep red as a pure solid, but turns orange when dissolved in water. It is the main pigment responsible for the colour of saffron.
Where does the name crocin come from?
The name crocin is linked to saffron, which is harvested from the crocus flower. Crocin is the pigment that gives saffron its colour.
What is crocin made from?
Crocin is a natural compound found in certain flowers, especially crocus, gardenia, and Buddleja. Chemically, it is formed from crocetin and sugar molecules.
What is crocin used for?
Crocin is mainly used as a natural colouring in food, especially in saffron. It is also of interest in scientific research for its possible health effects.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Crocin", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
More of the orange family
All of orange
#CC7722
Ochre
A natural earth pigment ranging from yellow to deep orange or brownPigment · 🇦🇺 Australia +5
Orange
Annatto
A yellow-orange dye and flavour from the seeds of the achiote treeDye · 🇲🇽 Mexico +5
#E73501
Chrome orange
A yellowish to deep orange pigment once prized by 19th-century paintersPigment
#FF4203
Minium
A bright orange-red pigment made by heating lead, once common in medieval manuscriptsPigment · 🇨🇳 China +5
Orange
Perinone
A group of organic pigments with orange and red isomersPigment
Orange
Flexirubin
A yellow-orange pigment found in certain bacteriaPigment
Orange
Pigment Orange 36
A synthetic orange pigment valued for its lasting colour in paints and coatingsPigment
Orange
Annatto
A natural orange-red dye from the seeds of a tropical shrubColour named from nature · 🇲🇽 Mexico +5