Color determines the commercial value of paprika oleoresins and is generall
y associated with the quality of the sample: the greater the coloring capac
ity, the higher the quality. The present study evaluates different paramete
rs of color measurement, such as ASTA and tint determination. The latter do
es not give a real value of the ratio between the red and yellow pigments a
nd is not a distinguishing parameter in most cases. However, combination of
the information from the ASTA method with that of the carotenoid compositi
on of the red and yellow fractions, acquired by HPLC, enables greater accur
acy in judging both the quality of the final sample and the soundness of th
e process for obtaining it. Finally, an alternative tint determination is p
roposed, based on measurements at other wavelengths and using the appropria
te extinction coefficients, thereby providing the composition of each fract
ion and the R/Y ratio, values closer to. those of the actual sample.