The subject invention relates to a vitamin C powder prepared by (a) spray drying an aqueous slurry of ascorbic acid and binder in the presence of an absorbent in amounts such that the resulting powder will contain at least 90 percent by weight of ascorbic acid, no more than 9 percent by weight of binder, from 0.2 to 2 percent by weight of absorbent; and blending from 0.2 to 5 percent by weight of a lubricant into the powder prepared by step (a). Preferably microcrystalline cellulose and mixtures of microcrystalline cellulose and hydroxypropylmethycellulose are used as the binder.The resulting sugar and starch free vitamin C powder prepared by this process will be free flowing, have an ascorbic acid content of at least 90 percent by weight, be color stable under use conditions, will contain a lubricant, and is directly compressible into tablets which have acceptable hardness, friability, color stability, and disintegration times.