To efficiently extract a colorant from petals of safflower at a low cost and to provide a safe and environmentally friendly colorant.

A method for extracting a red coloring matter of safflower comprises the steps of removing a yellow coloring matter by washing dried petals of safflower with water; stirring the water washed, yellow coloring matter-removed petals in an alkali solution and squeezing the petals to take out a red coloring matter-dissolved solution; neutralizing the red coloring matter- dissolved solution to take a settled red coloring matter out of the solution; and adsorbing the resulting red coloring matter onto a cellulose. Instead of the step of adsorbing the red coloring matter onto the cellulose in this method, a method additionally comprises the steps of powdering decolored petals of safflower by freeze-drying; and coloring the resulting powder with a red coloring matter or a method additionally comprises powdering the taken-out red coloring matter as such by freeze-drying.