A method of forming a colorant having a desired hue comprises mixing a component of a Huito fruit with an amino acid, thus forming a reaction mixture wherein the component of Huito fruit reacts with the amino acid and produces a blue color, and adjusting the hue of the blue color by adjusting the amount of oxygen present during reaction of the component of Huito fruit and the amino acid. The method may comprise adjusting a temperature of the mixing and/or other processing parameters.