Abstract: Sampled with the pigments extracted from Chinese chestnut shell by alkali solution, compared with the standard caramel pigments，the characteristics of chestnut shell pigments were studied. The methods using spectrophotometer and color measurement were designed to determinate absorbance values, L values and a values. Chromaticity with protein and with starch and chromaticness and red index were focused for research. The result showed that dyeability of the chestnut shell pigment by alkali extraction with starch and protein was good，so was the stability of the pigment. Besides，lower chromacticness and higher red index of pigments in shell were shown and the chromaticness and red index of samples were increased with the value of pH.