Arnatta

/ɑrˈnætə/ noun

Definition

A plant or the red-orange dye extracted from its seeds, used to color food and fabric.

Etymology

From Tupi (Brazilian indigenous language) 'urucum,' the word entered English through Spanish 'achiote' and various European spellings including 'annatto,' 'arnatto,' and 'arnatta'—different forms for the same tropical plant.

Kelly Says

Arnatta is why cheddar cheese is orange and why some butter has that golden-red hue—it's a natural food coloring that's been used for thousands of years in South America and is completely safe, unlike some artificial dyes!

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