Annato is an orange-red flavoring and food coloring derived from the seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa orellana) native to tropical regions of America. [1] It is commonly used to impart a yellow or orange color to food, but is also sometimes used to impart flavor and aroma. Its smell is described as "peppery with a hint of nutmeg" and a "slightly nutty, sweet and peppery" flavor. [2]

Redwood gets its color from various carotenoid pigments, mainly annathin and noranthin, present in the reddish waxy rind of the seeds. Condiments are usually prepared by grinding the seeds into a powder or paste. A similar effect can be achieved by using hot water, oil or lard to extract some of the color and flavor principles from the seeds and adding them to food. [3]

Annato and its extracts are now widely used on an artisanal or industrial scale as a coloring agent for many processed foods such as cheeses, dairy spreads, butter and margarine, custards, cakes and other baked goods, potatoes, snack foods, Breakfast cereals, smoked fish, sausages and more. Annato is a natural alternative to synthetic food coloring compounds for these uses, but it has been linked to rare cases of food-related allergies. [4] Annato has special commercial value in the United States because colorants derived from it are considered "exempt from certification" by the Food and Drug Administration.

Annato is commonly used to impart a yellow or orange color to many industrial and semi-industrial foods, including cheese, ice cream, bakery products, desserts, fruit fillings, yoghurt, butter, oil, margarine, processed cheese, and fatty products.[11] In the United States, rosewood extract is listed as a “certification-exempt” color additive [12] and is informally considered a natural color. Foods colored with annato may declare the coloring as "colored with annato" or "annato color" in the ingredient statement. [13] In the European Union it is identified by the E-number E160b.

The extract prepared from annato seed, Bixa orellana (L.), using a food grade extraction solvent Annato extracts occur as dark red solutions, emulsions or suspensions in water or oil or as dark red powders.