Bixa Orellana Collection

Achiote or lipstick tree, Bixa orellana, Rocou a teinture
5324419 Achiote or lipstick tree, Bixa orellana, Rocou a teinture by Maubert, Louis Joseph Edouard (1806-1879); (add.info.: Achiote or lipstick tree, Bixa orellana, Rocou a teinture)

Achiote or lipstick tree, Bixa orellana
6338074 Achiote or lipstick tree, Bixa orellana by Stanghi (19th century); (add.info.: Achiote, lipstick tree or annatto plant, Bixa orellana. Bissa oriana)

Inhabitants of French Guyana preparing Annatto, from Encyclopedie des Voyages
CHT177278 Inhabitants of French Guyana preparing Annatto, from Encyclopedie des Voyages by Jules Grasset de Saint-Sauveur (1757-1810) 1796 (coloured engraving) by Labrousse, L.F

Annatto (Bixa Orellana), seeds and dish containing yellow oil, elevated view

Annatto seed, SEM
Annatto seed. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the seed of the tropical achiote tree (Bixa orellana). The outer covering of the seed produces the red food colouring known as annatto

Bixa orellana L. lipstick tree or roucou
Illustration from the Botany Library Plate Collection held at the Natural History Museum, London

Bixa orellana, lipstick tree
Illustration from the Botany Library Plate Collection held at the Natural History Museum, London

Dried annatto seeds
Dried anatto seeds. These are the seeds of the annatto plant, Bixa orellana, which are used in herbal medicine. The plant is widely cultivated in tropical regions

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Bixa orellana, commonly known as annatto or achiote, is a tropical plant native to Central and South America. Its vibrant red seeds have been used for centuries by indigenous cultures as a natural dye for food, textiles, and body paint. The seeds are also prized for their culinary uses, adding both color and flavor to dishes like rice, stews, and sauces. In addition to its aesthetic and culinary benefits, it is valued for its medicinal properties and has been used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments such as inflammation, digestive issues, and skin conditions. The plant is rich in antioxidants and has antimicrobial properties that can help boost the immune system. Despite its long history of use in indigenous cultures, it has gained popularity worldwide in recent years due to its natural coloring properties. Food manufacturers often use annatto extract as a safe alternative to artificial food dyes.