Annatto

58,910.00 Incl. VAT

Bixa orellana

  • 450g
  • USDA Organic
  • Non GMO

 

 

NB: The line of organic RARE HERBS offered by Organic Shoppe are guaranteed to be fresh, colorful, and fragrant.
Because we source the majority of our herbs and spices directly from selected growers, the Herbs in this category of RARE HERBS are delivered between 6-8 WEEKS after order has been placed and payment confirmed by organic shoppe.
We import our organic herbs and spices directly from trusted organic farmers around the world who are inspected annually by a third-party, independent certifying agency.

Bixa orellana is a large, perennial shrub known for its red-orange seeds, commonly referred to as annatto or achiote. Native to Central and South America, annatto seeds were traditionally ground and blended with various spices then used to season culinary dishes. Annatto seed imparts an orange pigment and is commonly used in cosmetics and as a natural food dye.

Annatto is a South and Central American herb producing small, dark, red seeds with a faint, flowery odor. The tree was introduced to the Philippines during its Spanish period. In 1540, the Spanish mercenary Gonzalo Pizarro left the plunder of the Incan Empire on rumors that groves of cinnamon trees were to be found in the Amazon basin. Almost his entire force perished in the jungle. He escaped by sailing down the Amazon, his primary plunder the annatto berries he found instead of cinnamon.

The intense red color of the seed is due to bixin in the seed coat. Annatto also contains very high concentrations of carotenoids, chemicals in the same class as alpha- and beta-carotene. Annatto has been used for centuries to keep food from spoiling. Annatto seed is used in cooking, cosmetics, and as a natural food dye. Common names include achiote and lipstick tree.

Shopping Cart
Annatto
58,910.00 Incl. VAT