Oleoresin
A solvent extract of a spice that carries both its aroma oil and its resins, used by food manufacturers.
Also: spice extract, paprika oleoresin, capsicum extract, CO2 extract
An oleoresin is a concentrated extract made by dissolving a spice in a solvent, then removing the solvent. It carries the volatile oil, the non-volatile resins that give heat and body, and often the colour. Paprika oleoresin is a major natural food colour, with its strength measured in colour units, and capsicum, black pepper, turmeric and ginger oleoresins are common in processed foods. Manufacturers prefer them because they are uniform, free of microbes and have a long shelf life, and a small amount stands in for a large quantity of spice. Many spice-producing regions, including India and Spain, have oleoresin industries alongside the whole-spice trade.