Achiote is a small tree from the tropical region of South America (Peru and Brazil) Achiote is best known as the source of the natural pigment ANNATTO, a natural color and is one of the most used natural colors worldwide. This seed contains BIXIN a yellow carotenoid. Annato seeds contain 4.5-5.5% pigments, which consist of 70-80% bixin. Colors are extracted by water or solvent extraction processes generally resulting in the production of Bixin, Norbixin and Annato suspensions.
Achiote in powder form is a product that has a great potential and already has world-wide demand. The bixina of its seeds contributes one of the purer and natural red colors than exists in the food industry. Annato is used to color food products, such as cheeses (e.g., Cheddar, Red Leicester, and Brie), fish, margarine, butter, rice, smoked fish and salad oil.
The bixina is also used in the cosmetic industry for the manufacture of creams, labials pencils, solar filters and repellent against insects. |
