Water-Soluble Powder Dye Orange Mandarin 8g

This powder food colouring from the Patisdécor brand, distributed by Cerf Dellier in Hénin-Beaumont, gives sweet preparations a mandarin orange shade. It is water-soluble: it dissolves in water and in any mixture that contains it, unlike fat-soluble colourings, which are meant for chocolate and fats. The colour comes from two dyes, tartrazine (E102) and allura red AC (E129), carried on dextrose. It comes in a small 8 g glass jar.

Use it mainly to colour a mixture all the way through: macaron shells, meringues, sponge batter, buttercream, marzipan and pastillage. In a liquid preparation, add it as it is. In a firmer paste such as marzipan or sugar paste, dissolve it first in a few drops of water. It also works in an airbrush, diluted in boiled water or food-grade alcohol. The doses are tiny: the label sets a maximum of 0.31 g per kilo for fine bakery wares and 0.48 g per kilo for confectionery.

Keep the jar away from heat and damp, with the lid tightly closed. The powder is not to be eaten as it is. Like any product containing E102 and E129, it carries the warning that it may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. You will also find it on the shelves of our shop, 58 rue Tiquetonne, Paris.