Alterations in Zn2+ concentration are seen in normal tissues and in disease states, and for this reason imaging of Zn2+ is an area of active investigation. Herein, enriched [1‐13C]cysteine and [1‐13C2]iminodiacetic acid were developed as Zn2+‐specific imaging probes using hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy. [1‐13C]cysteine was used to accurately quantify Zn2+ in complex biological mixtures. These sensors can be employed to detect Zn2+ via imaging mechanisms including changes in 13C chemical shift, resonance linewidth, or T1.