A tropical American shrub or small tree that produces seeds with a red or orange dye coating, used to color food and textiles; also called annatto.
From the scientific Latin name 'Bixa orellana,' the genus name itself is from Taíno (indigenous Caribbean language). The plant and its name traveled with Spanish conquistadors from the Americas to the world.
Bixa seeds produce bixin, a natural dye so vibrant that it's still used to color butter, cheese, and fabric worldwide—and it's completely safe, making it more reliable than synthetic dyes that plagued the food industry.
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