PURPOSE: To obtain a pulverized phaffia coloring matter oil mainly containing a novel functional natural coloring matter which has not only excellent color tone, light fastness and coloring properties but also physiological activities such as antioxidizing antiinflammatory and immunopotentiating activities.

CONSTITUTION: Stabilized powdery product of phaffia coloring matter oil containing astaxanthin as a main ingredient. A uniform mixture is perpared from phaffia coloring matter oil, zein and/or gluten and a solvent and the solvent is removed to effect pulverization. The phaffia coloring matter oil is emulsified using a food emulsifier and the emulsion is spray-dried. The starting material containing phaffia coloring matter oil is molten in the presence of water or an organic solvent in an extruder at elevated temperature and pressure and the melt is jetted out of the die into the area maintained at normal or reduced pressure to form the powdery product.