Abstract: A process for the manufacture of food colors from hibiscus flowers comprising the steps of removing the calyx and the androceum of half bloom flowers; washing the flowers; and storing the flowers in a pre-cleaned stainless vessel; heating the flowers with water in a decoction chamber to at least 65 degrees to 70 degrees celsius; preparing a 5 percent w/v solution of an alkaline amino acid in demineralized water; adding the alkaline amino acid solution to the decoction chamber containing the flowers until the pH in the aqueous phase is 7.5 to 8; heating the mixture in the decoction chamber till the temperature of the aqueous phase exceeds boiling point and steam is generated with pressure of at least 1.