Annatto (annatto)

The annatto plant is also known by the names fondant tree and bixa.

Titles in other languages:

• lat. Bixa orellana;
• German Achote, Orleanstrauch;
• English Achiote, Annatto, Lipstick tree;
• fr. Rocou, achiote.

In Latin America, annatto has found wide application in various industries, thanks to a special red pigment. It is used as a natural dye in cooking and some other industries.

Numerous useful properties of this plant allow it to be used in medicine and cosmetology.

Annatto is a short, evergreen shrub with large, glossy, heart-shaped leaves.

During the flowering period, which lasts only one day, the plant is covered with small pink inflorescences with purple dust particles. After the annatto fades, fruits begin to set in place of the inflorescences. When ripe, they turn into rounded boxes of brown-red or bright red color, which are completely dotted with long sharp spines. They are divided into 2 sections.

When the boxes dry and open, it's time to harvest - there are numerous seeds in the boxes.

In one box there can be up to fifty small red berries, from which the pigment is subsequently obtained.

The annatto seeds themselves are brick or red in color. They are angular and hard. Their size is around 4 mm.

Annato loves heat and humid air, so on an industrial scale it is grown only in its natural habitat - the South American tropics. However, this shrub can also grow in the mountains, at an altitude of up to one and a half kilometers. The largest amount of annatto is grown in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

Spices are obtained from dried annatto seeds. To do this, separate them from the pulp, rinse thoroughly and dry. Keep the spice in a sealed container, in a dry, dark place.

Annatto dye is also produced from the seeds by an extraction process. When finished, it looks like a powder or thick paste. The color of the pigment can vary from yellow to bright red. Natural annatto dye is resistant to abrasion and high temperatures.

To obtain a dye, the seeds are poured with boiling water, and then infused for an hour.

• spicy aroma, with a slight woody tint;
• sharp-sweet aftertaste;
• yellow, orange or red.

Energy and nutritional value per 100 grams of product

• organic pigment bixin;
• organic pigment norbixin;
• proteins;
• calcium;
• iron;
• magnesium;
• vitamin B2;
• vitamin B3.

From the video you will learn everything about the annatto plant.

• protects against ultraviolet radiation;
• has antiseptic properties;
• helps to eliminate problems associated with the work of the digestive system;
• lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood;
• protects against various infections of the skin and mucous membranes;
• helps to fight diseases of the genitourinary system;
• lowers blood pressure.

The dye looks like powder.

• in the presence of intolerance, it can cause a severe allergic reaction;
• in large doses can cause a sharp increase in blood pressure.

The use of annatto as a spice or food coloring has no contraindications, except for the two cases listed above. If used in normal amounts, it cannot harm the human body. However, you should still not give annatto to young children. Also, in no case do not add the root of this plant to food, as it has a very aggressive effect on the liver.

• in English and French cuisines, it is used to color certain types of cheese;
• in Latin America it is added to seasonings and marinades;
• in the Caribbean, among other spices, it is part of a special fragrant oil;
• in the Philippines, it is an indispensable component of favorite national dishes - sweet potato pancakes, meat in annate oil and oxtail stew;
• in Vietnam and China it is used for coloring roasted meat in a bright color;
• used in North American cuisine to color butter and margarine;
• in Jamaica, it is the main component of a bright sauce, under which the national dish of salted cod is served.

To cook meat, mix:

• annatto paste;
• chilli;
• citrus juice.

The meat is rolled in the prepared sauce, allowed to marinate and baked in the oven in banana leaves.

Due to its antiseptic properties, annatto is used as an aid in the treatment of a number of diseases:

• measles;
• smallpox;
• dysentery;
• food poisoning;
• acute respiratory diseases;
• kidney and urinary tract infections;
• vaginal inflammation of various origins;
• skin inflammation;
• fever;
• haemorrhoids;
• heart rhythm disturbances;
• hypertension;
• migraine;
• conjunctivitis.

In medicine, various parts of this plant are used. Annatto seeds are used to treat diseases of the digestive system, as they can have a laxative or astringent effect.

The leaves of the plant are used for respiratory diseases, as well as for the treatment of skin inflammations and infections of the mucous membranes.

Annatto oil is used for skin care, as it has the following properties:

• smoothes;
• soothes;
• softens;
• nourishes;
• relieves inflammation;
• protects from the sun;
• has a rejuvenating effect;
• intensifies tan.

Manufacturers add annatto oil to various types of cosmetic products: shower gels, tanning products, soap, shampoo, as well as decorative cosmetics and other body and hair care products.

To make annatto oil, the seeds are completely removed, leaving it golden yellow in color.

In cooking, oil is used primarily when frying vegetables or meat.

Annatto has long been successfully used in landscape design. This short, evergreen shrub is ideal for making a hedge. To maintain its shape, it is enough to trim it several times a year with special garden scissors.

However, in order for the plant not to die, it needs to create comfortable living conditions. Annato loves heat, so the temperature should be maintained at 20-35 degrees. Scattered sunlight and regular watering are also needed, but waterlogging should be avoided.In summer and spring, twice a month, annatto is fed with a fertilizer based on organic substances and minerals.

• among primitive tribes, body painting with annatto paint has a ritual significance;
• The Indians used annatto for protection against insects.

There are still Indian tribes who decorate their bodies with paint made from annatto seeds. According to ancient beliefs, blood-red patterns can scare away evil spirits and save you from troubles.