ASTA colour
A standard measure of the red pigment in paprika and chilli, set by the American Spice Trade Association.
Also: ASTA colour value, extractable colour, colour units, ASTA 200
ASTA colour is the measure of extractable colour in dried red peppers, defined by the American Spice Trade Association. A sample is dissolved in acetone and its absorbance read by a spectrophotometer, giving a figure from about 20 for pale chillies to over 200 for deeply coloured paprika. Buyers use it to price chilli and paprika because colour and heat are independent: Kashmiri chilli scores high on colour and low on heat, and a hot bird's-eye chilli the reverse. Food makers choose by ASTA value for sausages, cheese, sauces and snacks. Colour fades with light, heat and time, so values drop in storage and exporters guarantee them at shipment.