Dispersible colorants that include a combination of a colorant and a polysaccharide are provided, wherein the weight ratio of total colorant to total polysaccharide is in the range of 5000:1 to 1:5000. In one aspect, the colorant is a synthetic or natural colorant. In one aspect, polysaccharide is interpreted very broadly and provides a colored precipitate upon the combination of the colorant with the polysaccharide.