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BIXA ORELLANA - ANNATO.
Common name: orleansbaum, achuete, annatto, urucum, urucu, anato, achiote, kuswé.
Family: bixaceae (achiote family). This plant stands alone in its family; a profusely fruiting shrub, reaching 6 - 20 feet tall and age up to about 50 years. Annato has pointed leaves and pink, white - or a pinkish - white flowers. The small reddish-orange seeds inside a prickly heartshaped pod are crushed and used as food coloring. Approximately 50 seeds grow inside of the pod. Depending on the color of the flowers, the seedpod is either green or red; the seeds have the same coating in both. These seeds are processed to obtain the orange-yellow pigments, bixin and norbixin (caratenoids), as dye for the food -, cosmetic - and soap industries. This dye is used to color the cheddar cheese and is also used for the coloring of rice. The used part is the dried pulp of the fruit. See recipes from the Surinam Kitchen. Other phytochemicals in the plant are tannins, saponins, mono - and sesquiterpenes. The indigenous people in Suriname have used the anatto seeds for many centuries as body paint during festivities, as a fabric dye, as a sunscreen and against insect bites. Annatto oil is emollient and the content has antioxidant properties. In Brazil urucum is used for heartburn and as a mild diuretic. In Suriname's traditional medicine, the entire plant is used against fever and dysentery. A decoction of the leaves is used to stop vomiting and nausea. The seeds against: sinusitis, asthma, constipation and skin disorders. Also against: uteritis. Hardiness: zone 9B - 11. Propagation: seeds and cuttings. Culture: full sun; protection from wind; moist rich soil, although it can grow on poor acid soils and has some tolerance for drought. Needs regular watering. No special problems where frost is not a hazard. Achuete will also do great indoors. |
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