Annatto or achiotte, (bixa orellana L.) has the scientific name derived from a Spanish explorer in the XVI century. This plant is grown mostly in South America and Brazil is the main producer and exporter. Known here as urucum or colorau, the seeds are used as a natural red food coloring in the food industry, cosmestics (known as the lipstick-tree), to dye textiles and also for cooking, which I recommend. The color result is similar to paprika, it does not alter the flavor of the food though. Also, Brazilian indians and other Latin-American indians use the seeds to make body paint.
This is my entry for Santilli's project: Today's Flowers. You can add your flowers too!
18 comments:
Beautiful flower, interesting seed pods, and very interesting information. Thanks.
Well reported. The Indians use these paintings for ceremonial rites, or even as an indication of war.
Very good post.
Better yet, because I being a Brazilian, did not know the flower of urucum, but knew the seed.
Muito bom tema. Urucum tem uma flor linda.
Very interesting post. I've never seen these flowers before and they are beautiful!
Interesting flower and very beautiful!
very beautiful! we have many like that in the Philippines..yes seeds are use for food coloring and you know the leaves we use that for medicine.. if a child have fever we put the leaves at the back of the child overnight..use as herbal medicine..
Thanks for showing us the different stages of the plant - very interesting. Such texture!
Lovely photo!
I found this a most interesting post... and of course thought the flower was a beauty... never heard of this which makes it all the better..
Tom
Chris: Wonderful looking flower and a great usage of these pods.
Lovely flowers. The color is gorgeous!
Fabulous post. Not only are the photos great to look at and enjoy but also the words bring new meaning to the post. Nice work.
My flowers are at Thunder Maker
beautiful flowers!
I did not know the Lipstick tree before! Very intersting! And the flower is really beautiful!
Thank you and have a nice weekend!
Hello !
Très jolies fleurs, et les chataignes donnent faim...
Cris,
Como são lindas, não as conhecia, obrigada por compartilhar.
Bjs, Denise
Interesting post!
Great capture!
Thanks for post here in TODAY'S FLOWERS.
Hope to see you every week!!
Luiz
Que saudade me deu do urucum que tinha num sítio que tivemos. Não cheguei a fotografar a semente nem a flor. Lindas! Bjs.
The Annatto flowers from Brazil are just as good as the flowers from Ecuador. After all, they're both in the Amazon area.
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