Candy Orange Natural Dyes

Achiote (Bixa Orellena) is a shrub or small tree originating from the tropical region of the America. Originally seeds of the Bixa Orellana were used to make red body pant and lipsticks as well as spice. It is best known as the sources of annatto, a natural orange red condiment. Annato is an orange-red condiment and fabric coloring derived from the seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa orellana). Annatto and its extracts are also used as an industrial food colouring to add yellow or orange colour. These seeds are processed to obtain the orange-yellow pigments, bixin and norbixin (carotenoids) as dyes for the food, cosmetic and soap industry. The flowers may be pink, white or purple. The paste is mainly produced by grinding the achiote seeds. Similar effects can be obtained by extracting some of the color and flavour principles from the seeds with hot water, oil, or lard, which are then added to the food or fabrics. Dyes extracted from Annatto also possess some or many medicinal and antimicrobial properties.