Annatto- a natural colouring agent

[satyanarayan gupta]

Annatto is a natural carotenoid obtained from Bixa orellana, a shrub belong to family bixaceae.In Hindi it is called as sindhuria or latkan.

The seeds of this plants are gaining economic importance in recent years as a highly desirable colourant. The annatto dye is non toxic and mainly used for colouring edible materials like ghee,milk products,butter,chocolate and cosmetics.It is also used in floor polishes,shoe polishes and hair oils.

It can be grown in dry and humid climate and on any type of soil.

If anybody is inclined to know more about cultivation,marketing,suppliers,buyers of this crop,
please contact me.

Regards
Satya.

[satyanarayan gupta]

Dear Friends,
I would like to add more in this topic.

Annatto is originated in tropical America.In India it is mainly grown for checking the boundries of the field.Very few people are engaged in commercial cultivation of this crop.

Soil-it is hardy shrub which can be grown in any type of soil.Soil should have little moisture retention capacity.

Climate-it is a tropical plant.Needs warm and humid climate.

Season-it is planted in month of april and may.

Propagation-it can be propagated by seeds and stem cuttings. And around 500 plants can be accomodate in one hectare area.

Flowering-it start bearing flowers from 3rd year till 10 th year.
Flowering season-leat week of august to middle of october.Flowers convert into fruits 90 days after flowering.They mature and dry up in january.

Harvesting-formation of cracks at the stigmatic end is the sign of maturity.mature fruits should not leaves for further time otherwise due to brusting ,there may be less yield.

Yield-each shrub gives around 1 kg of seeds and from one hectare 300-500 kg of seeds can be obtained.

For further information please contact me.

Regards
Satya.

[sudhirpai]

I have some quantity of Anato seeds.
Where can I find the buyers?
Sudhir Pai
Banglore

[billaur_agri]

We have some anato seeds grown in west bengal.
where i will get buyers?

gaurav

[pk_dand]

Originally Posted by satyanarayan gupta

Annatto is a natural carotenoid obtained from Bixa orellana, a shrub belong to family bixaceae.In Hindi it is called as sindhuria or latkan.

The seeds of this plants are gaining economic importance in recent years as a highly desirable colourant. The annatto dye is non toxic and mainly used for colouring edible materials like ghee,milk products,butter,chocolate and cosmetics.It is also used in floor polishes,shoe polishes and hair oils.

It can be grown in dry and humid climate and on any type of soil.

If anybody is inclined to know more about cultivation,marketing,suppliers,buyers of this crop,
please contact me.

Regards
Satya.

can you guide me who to process seed and also buyers/ sellers in quantity

[krishanb]

Dear Sir,

We are interested in this crop. Pls send us the economic details, plants requirements, project duration, etc. so that we can decide to cultivate this crop.

[kirti s]

Dear Sir

Annatto
Bixa orellana
Fam Bixaceae
Annatto is used both as a spice and a dyestuff. It may be better known to Mexican and Latin markets as achiote or in the Philippines as atsuwete or achuete .In the West it used to colour confectionery, butter, smoked fish and cheeses like Cheshire, Leicester, Edam and Muenster. As an effective natural colouring it is also used in cosmetics and textile manufacturing. It provides a bright and exotic appearance for many kinds of dishes. Yeats wrote “Good arnotto is the colour of fire” (Natural History, 1870). The Mayan Indians of Central America used the bright dye as war paint.

Food Ingredient
Ingredients for Coloring various food items, dairy products, annatto oil in food preparation
Processing / Extraction
Solvent Extraction , Supercritical Process for extraction , extraction of Bixin

Spice Description
Annatto seeds are brick red, triangular in shape, 3 - 5 mm (1/8” - 3/16”). The seeds are available whole and can often be purchased in a block or paste form at Latin American markets.
Bouquet: slightly peppery with a hint of nutmeg
Flavour: slightly sweet and peppery.
Hotness Scale: 1 -2

Preparation and Storage
Annatto seeds are washed and dried separately from the pulp of the seed pod for culinary use. They may be added directly to a cooking liquid or infused in hot water until the desired colour is obtained and then used for stocks or colouring rice. It is also common to fry the seeds in oil for a few minutes (best done in a covered pan as the hot seeds jump), then discard the seeds and use the oil. Try using one teaspoon of seeds to 4 tablespoons of oil. Annatto seeds should be kept out of light in an airtight container.

Culinary Uses
As mentioned above, annatto is used for colouring cheeses, confectionery, butter and cheeses. It is more widely used in the Caribbean and Latin America, especially Guatemala and Mexico. The seeds are also particularly associated with Filipino cuisine, in dishes like; ukoy, shrimp and sweet potato fritters; pipian, chicken and pork in an annatto oil sauce; and kari-kari, a brightly coloured vegetable and oxtail stew.

Attributed Medicinal Properties
Annatto was once used to control fevers, dysentry and kidney diseases, though is now used mostly as a dye in medical preparations such as ointments and plasters. In India the pulp is used as an insect repellent.

Annatto Description and Cultivation
A shrub indigenous to the Caribbean and Central America, with shiny heart-shaped leaves, sometimes with reddish veins. An attractive pink flower made it popular as a hedge plant in colonial gardens. The fruit capsule is heart-shaped, like a beech pod, with opposing clefts and red prickly spines. When ripe, the pod splits in half to reveal about fifty seeds encased in a red pulp. The pulp is used in many commercial dye products.
The Bixa orellana is commercially grown for the dye product and for its seeds as a spice. It requires a tropical setting in a loamy soil at altitudes below 1,000 m (3,000 ft). It is sown from seed or from cuttings. The ripe fruits are collected then macerated in water. The dye settles and is collected and dried into cakes and the seeds are separated and washed.
Annatto is profusely fruiting shrub or small tree that grows 5-10 m in height . Approx. 50 seeds grow inside reddish - orange heart shaped pods at the end of the branches . One small annatto tree can produce upto 270kg . of seeds ,which is the source of orange –yellow edible colour . Annatto is known as Achiote in Spanish ,urucum in Portuguese & lipstick tree in English .
Agroclimatic Requirement for Annatto Cultivation :
The plant is widely cultivated and naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions of the world . Rainfall ranges from 1000 mm to 3000 mm per year in areas where the species grows naturally or under cultivation . Soil with texture from sandy to clay are colonized . The species is frost sensitive .
Cultivation practices : Land Preparation : Trenches of 10”x10”x10 size are prepared at the distance of July – August .
Seeds : 200 plants are required per acre .



Other Names
Achiote, Anatta, Annato, Annotta, Aploppas, Arnotta, Arnotto, Orellana, Orlean, Orleana
French: rocou, roucou
German: Annatto
Italian: annatto
Spanish: achiote, achote
Argentine: urucu
Caribbean: bija, bijol, foucou
Indian: latkhan, sendri
Philipines: achuete, atsuwete

Kirti

[pk_dand]

Originally Posted by satyanarayan gupta

Annatto is a natural carotenoid obtained from Bixa orellana, a shrub belong to family bixaceae.In Hindi it is called as sindhuria or latkan.

The seeds of this plants are gaining economic importance in recent years as a highly desirable colourant. The annatto dye is non toxic and mainly used for colouring edible materials like ghee,milk products,butter,chocolate and cosmetics.It is also used in floor polishes,shoe polishes and hair oils.

It can be grown in dry and humid climate and on any type of soil.

If anybody is inclined to know more about cultivation,marketing,suppliers,buyers of this crop,
please contact me.

Regards
Satya.

Dear Mr Satya

Ihave planted 10000 plants of bixa three years ago i an facing yield & selling problem can you guide me in cultivation,marketing,suppliers,buyers of this crop,

Regards

Piyush

[kirti s]

Dear Sir

Please contact the below for help

Universal Natural Products, Palakkad
Manufacturer / Supplier / Exporter of : getropha plants, stevia plants, pongamia pinnata plants, Annato plants, neem leaves
Location: Sree Padmam, 10/313, Durga, Puthur,
Palakkad,
Kerela, India, 678 001.
Contact all Selected Companies


Diva Farms, Hyderabad
Selllers of Annato seeds and aswagandha roots.
Location: B-140 A. F. CO. H. S. LTD 4th Link Road, Sainikpuri,
Hyderabad,
Andhra Pradesh, India, 500 094.
Contact all Selected Companies


Kamala Exports, Hyderabad
Location: Flat No. 301, Srinivasa Nilayam Apartments, Gudimalkapur,
Hyderabad,
Andhra Pradesh, India, 500 028.
Contact all Selected Companies


Nature Fresh Agrotech Human resource, Mumbai
Manufacturer / Supplier / Exporter of : medicinal plants, aromatic plant extracts 443, Ratan Lane, Trimbakeshwar,
Mumbai,
Maharashtra, India, 400 078.
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G. H. S. Panankandy, Kalpetta
Exporters of seeds of Annato, vanilla, sufed musli and jetofra.
Location:
Nambusseril House, Pallikunnu P. O., Kalpetta Via, Wayanad,
Kalpetta,
Kerela, India, 673 121.
Contact all Selected Companies


S. & H. Industries, Ujjain
Location:
55, Varruchi Marg, Freeganj,
Ujjain,
Madhya Pradesh, India, 456 010.

Kirti