Abstract: A high-yield process of producing essentially pure fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid is disclosed which gives significantly increased yields of esters using a simple reaction scheme and an excess of relatively inexpensive, recoverable fatty acids, as opposed to use of an excess of ascorbic acid. The process hereof comprises reacting an ascorbic acid isomer and a saturated fatty acid in concentrated sulfuric acid at ambient or relatively low temperatures, followed by ester recovery. Surprisingly, enchanced yields are obtained by using a molar excess of fatty acid relative to the ascorbic acid, 98-99% concentrated sulfuric acid as opposed to 95% sulfuric acid, and/or a molar ratio of the sum of the fatty acid and ascorbic acid to sulfuric acid of from about 0.1 to 0.3.