The present invention relates to a composition for coloring foods, beverages, animal feeds, cosmetics or drugs comprising 1) dissolved carotenoid emulsified as an oil-in-water emulsion using a suitable emulsifier and 2) crystalline carotenoid encapsulated in a suitable hydrocolloid, making it water-dispersible and thereby miscible with the oil-in-water emulsified carotenoid fraction, mixed in a ratio of between 1:100 to 100:1. The present invention further relates to a method for preparing the coloring composition, a method for preparing a food, beverage, animal feed, cosmetic or drug and a food, beverage, animal feed, cosmetic or drug comprising the coloring composition.