Pho Broth Color Psychology & Meaning
Pho broth is beef and star anise simmered for hours until it turns a clear amber, the color of Vietnamese comfort. The palette of cream to dark broth reads as warmth, patience, and depth of flavor.
#F0E0C8
#C8A060
#8A5A2A
#3A2010
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Pho Broth Color Palette
#F0E0C8 · #C8A060 · #8A5A2A · #3A2010
AAA
WCAG Grade
11.6:1
Contrast Ratio
1,250
Saves
3,200
AI Copies
Use #F0E0C8 as the background. Use #C8A060 as the primary accent. Use #8A5A2A as secondary. Use #3A2010 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Pho Broth — warm, comforting, aromatic.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Pho Broth color scheme. Use these values for web design (HEX/RGB), print projects (CMYK), or specialized design software (HSL).
| Swatch | Design Role | HEX | RGB | CMYK | HSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background Luminance: 76.0% | 240, 224, 200 | 0%, 7%, 17%, 6% | 36°, 57%, 86% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 38.3% | 200, 160, 96 | 0%, 20%, 52%, 22% | 37°, 49%, 58% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 12.9% | 138, 90, 42 | 0%, 35%, 70%, 46% | 30°, 53%, 35% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 2.0% | 58, 32, 16 | 0%, 45%, 72%, 77% | 23°, 57%, 15% |
Pho Broth Tints & Shades
Hover states, borders and elevation need lighter and darker steps of your base colors. Here are computed tints and shades for every color in the Pho Broth palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#F0E0C8 gently saturated orange
#C8A060 gently saturated orange
#8A5A2A gently saturated orange
#3A2010 gently saturated orange
Pho Broth Palette Contrast Matrix (WCAG 2.1)
Every color tested as text on every other color as background. Body copy needs 4.5:1 (AA), large text and UI components 3:1. AAA requires 7:1.
| Text on Background | Preview | Ratio | Grade | Safe For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #3A2010 on #F0E0C8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 11.62:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #F0E0C8 on #3A2010 |
Aa Sample Text
| 11.62:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #3A2010 on #C8A060 |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.21:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #C8A060 on #3A2010 |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.21:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #8A5A2A on #F0E0C8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.53:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #F0E0C8 on #8A5A2A |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.53:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #3A2010 on #8A5A2A |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.57:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #8A5A2A on #3A2010 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.57:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #8A5A2A on #C8A060 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.42:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C8A060 on #8A5A2A |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.42:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C8A060 on #F0E0C8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.87:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #F0E0C8 on #C8A060 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.87:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Pho Broth palette is built using a analogous relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
Hue Wheel
A analogous palette is often preferred by professional designers because it creates a calm, serene atmosphere by using neighboring colors.
History & Design Context
Pho emerged in northern Vietnam in the early twentieth century, blending local noodle traditions with French beef consumption. It became the national dish and a global phenomenon with the Vietnamese diaspora.
Best Design Use Cases
Use the cream for backgrounds, the broth amber for cards, and the deep brown for primary accents. The darkest brown works for text and rich sections.
Industries This Palette Suits
Vietnamese restaurants, food brands, noodle and soup products, Asian cuisine, hospitality.
Colors That Pair Well With Pho Broth
Need a fifth color? These three companions are computed from the palette's own hue positions on the color wheel, so they extend the scheme without breaking its harmony.
blue
directly opposite #C8A060 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
yellow
30° beside #C8A060 — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
tinted neutral
a ink-black carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Pho Broth Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #C8A060 for small UI elements on #F0E0C8 — at 1.9:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #3A2010 — 11.6:1 against #F0E0C8 passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Let #8A5A2A carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #C8A060.
How to Implement the Pho Broth Color Scheme
To use this Pho Broth color palette in your web project, you can copy the following CSS variables or Tailwind CSS configuration. These roles ensure your UI maintains accessibility and visual hierarchy.
Option 1: CSS Variables
:root {
/* {name} Palette - ihatecolors.com */{'
'} --color-bg: {colors[0]};{'
'} --color-primary: {colors[1]};{'
'} --color-secondary: {colors[2]};{'
'} --color-text: {colors[3]};{'
'} {'}'}Web Design Tip
Use #F0E0C8 for the main background and #C8A060 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #3A2010 and #F0E0C8 is 11.62:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Pho Broth Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Pho Broth color palette?
The Pho Broth palette contains #F0E0C8, #C8A060, #8A5A2A, #3A2010. Click any swatch on this page to copy its value, or export all four at once as CSS variables, Tailwind config, SCSS or a Figma-ready list.
Is the Pho Broth color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #3A2010 on #F0E0C8 reaches 11.6:1 (AAA). For body text always keep a 4.5:1 ratio and for large UI elements 3:1 — the full contrast matrix above shows the exact score for every color-on-color combination in this palette.
What colors go well with the Pho Broth palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #5F88C8, #B4BE6A, #171511 extend it naturally: the complementary hue for high-energy accents, an analogous neighbor for calm transitions, and a tinted neutral for surfaces. All three are computed from this palette's hues on the color wheel.
What mood does the Pho Broth palette create?
Pho Broth reads as warm, comforting, aromatic. Gently saturated orange drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated orange — a combination that works best when the very light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Pho Broth color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Pho Broth palette is free for personal, client and commercial work — websites, branding, apps, print and social content, with no attribution required.
How do I add the Pho Broth palette to Tailwind or CSS?
Use the export panel on this page: CSS variables, a Tailwind config block, SCSS variables, or a Figma copy list are generated from Pho Broth's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.