A method of preparing colored products from edible materials comprises processing Genipa americana fruit juice, which contains genipin, genipin derivatives, or pre-genipin compounds, with other edible juices or extracts which contain nitrogenous compounds such as amino acids, polypeptides, or proteins. The generated natural colored products have excellent stability and can be used in a broad range of applications including beverages, foodstuffs, drugs, dietary supplements, cosmetics, personal care stuffs, and animal feeds.

The present invention provides a method for forming caramels having reduced low molecular weight species such as 4-MeI. The low-4-MeI caramels produced by this method have improved stability and taste relative to those known in the art. The invention also extends to the caramels produced by the disclosed methods and the use of such caramels in food and beverages.

Class IV caramel color with reduced 4-MeI content is formed by combining carbohydrate with ammonium bisulfite and acid in an amount effective to establish a pH of less than 5. This is heated in a closed reactor vessel and heated to a temperature and for a time effective to provide the desired intensity caramel color. A base is injected into the closed reaction vessel during heating to control the caramelization reaction.