The objective of this research was to investigate the formation of Zn–chlorophyll complexes in the pandan leaf with the goal of producing a greener, more stable and natural chlorophyll colorant using enzymatic extraction to produce the highest yield of Zn–chlorophyll derivatives. The reaction of chlorophyll compounds in fresh pandan leaves with 300 ppm zinc chloride at pH 5 and 110C for 15 min produced the optimal conditions for Zn–chlorophyll complex formation. The commercial enzyme pectinase (Pectinex Ultra SP-L) assisted in the extraction process and an experimental design using response surface methodology was further optimized for the highest yield. The optimum conditions were 2.3–2.5% v/w pectinase, 240–260 min incubation time and extraction repeated twice at 35C. Under the optimum conditions, the extraction yields of green chlorophyll derivatives and antioxidant values were increased 17.31- and 1.92-fold, respectively, over untreated samples.