The exotic dye Annatto, known in the industry as the food additive E160b, is a natural, natural ingredient. Without even knowing it, people eat foods with its contents every day. What is his harm and is there any benefit from it?
Tropical shrub bixa oreglana
Annatto is obtained from the seeds of the tropical plant of the Bix of Orellana. This is a shrub of the Bix family with large bright leaves and pink flowers with many stamens. It blooms only one day, after which the fruit is formed - a bright red box with seeds.
After ripening, the box opens, discarding seeds for sowing. The birthplace of the plant is South America, and it got its name from the traveler who discovered the Amazon - Francisco de Orellana. Now the plant is cultivated in many countries of Asia, Africa, in areas of tropical climate.
Usage history
Back in the days of the ancient Indian tribes, seeds began to be used as paint. The Indians painted themselves with war paint to intimidate an enemy from another tribe, as well as to protect themselves from insects and sunlight. It is not for nothing that the Orellana Bix has several names, and one of them is fondant. Since ancient times, all parts of the plant have been used. Native Americans used seeds not only as paint. Their antibacterial effect has been widely used in the treatment of infectious diseases and poisonings. Petals of flowers treated a headache. The leaves helped with burns, skin inflammation, disinfected wounds. You can not use only the root of the bush, it is considered poisonous.
In the XVII century, annatto seeds were brought to Europe, and since then they have been used as food coloring. Now it is added in food production in the countries of America, Asia, Europe, as well as in Russia.
Coloring matter
The red seeds of the plant subsequently become the raw material for the isolation of the extract. From it, the natural dye Annatto is obtained. Its color varies from yellow to orange, but under the influence of high temperatures it can give both pink and red shades. This property of changing color when the temperature changes is very convenient and is often used in industry.
What determines the coloring properties of the plant? This content of pigments in it is of two types - biksin and norbixin. Bixin is a fat-soluble pigment, produced in liquid form and used in the dairy industry. Norbixin is soluble in water and has the form of a powder. It is used both in the food industry - in the manufacture of drinks, bread, and in other industries: the manufacture of textiles, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals.
Annato in cheese making
The most common use of annatto in the production of cheese. It is he who gives such an appetizing yellow color. Dye for Annatto cheese is added to milk at an early stage of preparation. This gives the desired color to the future cheese. This is especially true in the winter, when cows receive an insufficient amount of fresh vegetable feed. Which leads to a decrease in the pigment content in milk and affects the color of the cheese - without dye it would be an unusual pale color.
What is convenient for annatto in the preparation of cheese - it does not change color for the entire time of its maturation. The dosage depends on the type of cheese, because some should have a rich orange color, for example cheddar. On average, add 1-2 drops per liter of milk. In addition to economical use, there is still a huge plus for production - it increases the shelf life of the product, and not only cheese, thanks to its antibacterial and antioxidant properties. In addition, it gives the product a specific taste resembling nutmeg.
Other applications
Annatto dye is widely used for the preparation of dairy products - yogurt, butter, margarine. In the dairy industry , Bixin is used in liquid form - a fat-soluble form. It can be used for making ice cream, coloring creams for confectionery products, colorizing milk desserts - puddings, soufflés. Use it in the baking business. The scope of its application also includes the production of alcoholic beverages. Some of them require a bright saturated color, for example liquors, with which the dye can easily cope. Norbixin is already used here - a water-soluble pigment in the form of a powder.
E160b is used not only in the food industry. They dye fabrics such as silk, cotton, wool. Used in pharmaceuticals to color tablets and ointments. And even some cosmetics may contain annatto, such as lipstick or blush.
Annato's cooking
In many Asian countries, the food coloring Annatto is used to cook fish and smoked meat, mainly pork or poultry. In addition to its attractive color, it also plays the role of spice and preservative. With it they make marinades for meat, sauces, add to rice, beans, dishes from vegetables: tomatoes, peppers. It is similar in its properties to curcumin seasoning, which is especially often used in oriental cuisine. Therefore, in any dishes in which it is used, it can be replaced by the annatto dye. Curcumin is a seasoning with a bright yellow saturated color; it is obtained by isolating the extract from turmeric root.
Annatto seeds are used in crushed form as a seasoning. You can also insist them in hot water, and the resulting infusion to tint food during cooking, for example rice. Another way to use it is to fry the seeds in vegetable oil, then remove them from the pan, and continue to cook the dish in tinted oil.
Useful dye
Annato is known as the “Food Coloring E160b”, which does not inspire confidence among most consumers, but this is completely in vain. Annatto dye is a completely natural product. It contains substances similar to vitamin E in its effect on the human body - carotenoids. This is primarily expressed in the antioxidant properties of annatto, which neutralize oxidation processes, which favorably affects the condition of the skin.
Annatto is quite high-calorie, but since its content in the products is negligible, this should not cause concern. Besides the fact that annatto gives bright color and piquant taste to food products, it has a number of health benefits. In some countries, it is used in the treatment of diseases of the stomach, kidneys, infectious diseases, smallpox, measles, vomiting, diarrhea are treated. It is used as a diuretic. They treat prostatitis, viral and fungal infections in the genital area. Helps with headache, fever, angina pectoris, conjunctivitis. This is all due to its antibacterial properties. It also has anti-inflammatory effects in rheumatism.
Is there any harm from the annatto?
Annatto Dye E160b is a safe food supplement. It is approved for use in Russia and many other countries in Europe, Asia and America. But nevertheless, in view of the public’s distrust of additives with the E index, the consumer asks what the dye is annato, whether it is harmful. The only contraindication to the use of this substance is hypersensitivity to the components of the dye. It can cause an allergic reaction in people prone to such an ailment. But these are extremely rare cases, so we can say that the dye Annato does no harm.