Annatto

About Annatto

The seeds produce a vivid orange-red color used as natural food coloring. It is what gives cheddar cheese its orange color. It has been used as body paint and dye in Central and South America for thousands of years. The ancient Mayans used it as sunscreen. It has a mild, slightly peppery flavor. It is the source of achiote paste used in Yucatecan and Filipino cuisine. The tree can reach 10 meters. It produces heart-shaped fruit pods containing the seeds. It is native to tropical America. Brazil is the largest producer. It is used in cosmetics as a natural colorant. The seeds are steeped in oil to extract color.