Rainforest Plants – Annatto
Kingdom: Plant
Domain: Angiosperms
Order: Eudicots
Family: Bixaceae
Genus: Bixa
Species: Bixa orellana
Common names: onoto, achiote, urucum
Overview: Annatto is a shrub or small tree that grows 50-10 m tall. About 50 seeds to grow this fruit rich, irritable, red-orange heart-shaped pod at the end of the branches. The trees were literally under the pods varied, and some Annattotree can produce up to 270 kg of seeds.
Location: It grows throughout South and Central America and the Caribbean and can be found in some parts of Mexico.
Uses: Annatto is a shrub found in the Caribbean, South and Central Americas. It is also the name of the pigment derived from the seeds of Bixa orellana. The seeds are covered with a reddish aril, which is the source of an orange-yellow dye. Although it has a number of uses, Annatto is primarily grown for commercial production the dye. However, lies in Latin America and Caribbean cuisine as a flavoring and coloring.
The color and aromas of the substances obtained by removing the flesh from the seeds and let dry. The dried material is then pressed into cakes. The seeds can be soaked in water, fermented, and desserts.
The value of this plant in its natural properties, is edible, non-cancer and a dye that is widely available at low cost. Annatto isused in the Philippines and Latin America as a food color additive. This is especially good for coloring dairy products like cheese, yogurt and ice cream, yogurt, most supporters in the U.S. probably did not know that treatment of the Amazon rainforest when they eat fresh yogurt pleasure of tasting. Other applications include color popcorn oil, butter, cakes, snacks, dry mixes, beverages, and lipstick.
Annatto is also a natural anti-oxidants, andhas been used for centuries by Amazon tribes, dysentery and healers to treat fever. Tribal legend also claims that Annatto was one of the ingredients of the ancient Aztec chocolate drink. Annatto is still used by some strains of body paint to dress Amazon.
Disclaimer: Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Any reference to medicinal use is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.
