ACHIOTE

'13~a ore{fana L.
A natural food color and dye
by R. Rajendran

AES PUBLICATION NO. 73 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF GUAM

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 CONTENTS

Scientific name Chemical action of the dye

Synonim Common uses

Origin Industrial uses as dye

Introduction into Guam and Micronesia Silk

Common names Wool

Description Other uses

Climatic requirement Ornamental value

Soil requirement Limitation

Propagation Varietal differences

Planting Extraction

Fertilizer requirement Marketing

Harvesting Imports

Insect pests . References

Diseases
 ACHIOTE
on the lower surface and are green on upper surface
Achiote is a dicotyledonous plant of the Bixaceae and brownish green beneath. The dark to light green
(Arnotte) family which has only one genus, Bixa L., leaves are usually 8 to 20 em long and 5 to 19 em wide,
(Bailey, 1963). depending on the cultivar. Sometimes the leaves have
reddish veins (Purseglove, 1976).
Scientific name: Bixa orellana L.
Synonym: Bixa arborea Huber. The flowers are perfect, fragrant, white to light pink in
color. They are born in branched terminal panicles on
Origin: Achiote is native to Mexico, Central and Tropical scaly stalks. They are 4to 6em across, resembling wild
South America and is now naturalized throughout the rose, apple or peach flowers. They are a favorite of
tropics (Bailey, 1977). honeybees, which pollinate them. The flowers have
five calyx lobes, which are imbricate (overlapping), and
Introduction into Guam and Micronesia: The deci-duous (falling off after the flower opens) which
introduction of achiote in the region is uncertain. alternate with exterior glands. They have five spreading
According to Fosberg et al. (1979), achiote could have petals, numerous stamens with yellow anthers, and an
been introduced by the aboriginal inhabiters prior to the elongated stigma with a superior one celled ovary.
landing of Magellan in the year 1521, whereas Moore
and McMakin (1979) suggest that it may have been in- The fruits occur in terminal clusters and are flat when
troduced by the Spanish from Mexico. young. They are 2-valved capsules, ovoid to somewhat
round in shape, conical to heart shaped in some
Common name: The Mexican, Aztec name 'achuete' cultivars. They are 3 to 7 em long and 2 to 5 em broad.
for achiote still persists (Merrill, 1981 ). On Guam the The color of the fruit varies from green through green-
local name is achiote (Stone, 1970) or achote. It is also ish brown to scarlet-red. The mature fruit is asoft-spiny
known in different parts of the Pacific as annatto, pod which splits into two parts, exposing the seeds
anatto, achuete, alaea, achiot, apatut, asute, atsuete, while still on the tree. Between the seeds and the outer
chanang, sotis (Brown, 1921) and the 'lipstick tree' shell of the capsule is a layer of translucent parchment.
(Marie, 1965). The soft spines resemble those of chestnut burs and
harden to some extent on drying. The fruit contains 20
Description: The plant is an ever-green bush or a to 50 seeds attached to a central core. The seeds are
small tree that grows to a height of 3 to 6 meters, and angular, wedge-shaped and are enclosed in the aril
10 em trunk diameter, depen-ding on the soil type and (arillate seeds) which is a thin layer of orange pulp.
fertility. The bark is light brown and smooth with many When the fruit matures, the seed dries and the aril is
warty dots (lenticels). It has orange sap in the inner bark seen as a thin, bright-red covering. The aril is the valu-
and the twigs are ringed at nodes (Little, Jr. and able economic product of the plant. Pigment yield is 5
Wadsworth, 1964). The twigs are green with minute, to 6 % of the seed weight.
rusty, reddish brown scales, dark brown as they mature.
The alter-nate leaves are thin, entire, ovate, with pointed Climatic requirement: Achiote requires a frost-free,
apexes, more or less heart shaped with a moderately warm, humid climate and a sunny location. It can grow
long petiole, about one-third to one-half the length of in wide variety of tropical to subtropical climates and
the blade. Young leaves have minute scales when needs little care. In places where rainfall is not dis-
young, becoming hairless or remaining slightly scaly tributed equally throughout the year, irrigation may be
necessary. On Guam the plant needs little care.
Soil requirement: Achiote grows on almost all types Periodic application of these macro-elements is
of soils, with a preference for deep, neutral and slightly essential. No information is available on the nutrient
alkaline soils. It grows into a larger tree when planted requirement of this plant.
in deeper and more fertile soil with sufficient organic
matter. However it does well on limestone, where the Harvesting: The capsules should be harvested after
top soil is only a few centimeters thick and overlies a they start turning brown and before they split open. The
coral base. harvested pods are dried in the shade and threshed by
. gently beating the pods with a stick. The seeds can
Propagation: The plant can be propagated from then be collected, cleaned to remove dust and other
seeds or stem cuttings. Seed-grown plants take longer plant parts, dried again and stored.
to flower and do so sparingly; they are very tall and ex-
hibit a lot of variation. Plants propa-gated by stem Insect pests: Insect pests are of minor importance to
cuttings, which allows selection of high yielding, rapid achiote. The pests present in Micronesia include
growing cultivars, flower early, profusely and bear fruit 1) Spiraling whitefly (Aieurodicus dispersus),
within two years. The plants are also more uniform in 2) Pink wax scale (Ceroplastes rubens),
growth and external characteristics. 3)Transparent scale or Coconut scale (Aspidiotus
destructor),
Planting distance: For commercial production achiote 4) Sychelles scale (~ schellarum), and
should be planted in rows 4 mapart, and 3m within the 5) Red banded thrips (Selenothrips rubrocinctus) Stout,
row. Periodic pruning, thinning, removal of dead, dried 1982.
and weak stems, and balancing the shape of the plant
are required to increase economic yield. Diseases: Afoliar disease of minor importance, caused
by a fungus (Phyllosticta bixina). has been recorded for
Fertilizer requirement: The achiote plant grows easily Guam (Russo etal., 1985). In other parts of the world,
and normally does not exhibit any nutritional achiote is infected by powdery mildew (Oidium ~)
deficiencies. It is usually not fertilized. However, and another fungus (Oidium heveae), which also causes
application of nitrogenous fertilizer with a combination powdery mildew on rubber (Cook, 1975).
of the macro-elements phosphorous and potash, will
encourage faster early growth and higher yield. Ni- Chemical action of the dye: According to Gardner
trogen is important for formation of proteins. It is an es- (1912) achiote is more completely soluble in alcohol
sential element of chlorophyll, the green portions in than water. It is less soluble in solutions of alkali
plants that manufacture starch and sugars. hydroxides and carbonates of borax and soap, forming
a liquid of orange red color which produces an orange-
Phosphorous is essential for flowering and seed red precipitate with acids. It gives orange flakes with
formation. As phospho-rous locks up in the soil and alumina (aluminum oxide, A1p 3) and ferrous sulphate
becomes immobile it should be applied in excess in (FeS04), a yellowish-brown precipitate with salts of
deeper layers during initial land preparation. Potas- copper, and a lemon yellow with tin salts. Concentrated
sium is usually available in the soil, but soil bound sulph-uric acid dissolves achiote to give a deep blue
potash is of little use to the plant. Potash is an important color which changes to green and violet. Upon adding
catalyst in photosynthesis, helps in the movement of water a deep green precipitate is formed.
sugars in the plant, plays a role in seed formation, and
helps the plant to better utilize nitrogen.
Uses: The main commercial product obtained from the Ornamental value: The heart-shaped leaf, white and
achiote plant is a harmless organic dye called 'bixin' pink flowers, and red pod enhances the aesthetic value
which is a carbohydrate with the chemical formula c28 of the plant in a home garden or apublic park. The plant
H34 Os. is beautiful to look at when planted alone in a home
garden or in groups in a public park. It requires little
The extract from achiote is commercially called annatto, maintenance. ·
and is widely used in the food industry for coloring rice,
candy, margarine, oils, butter, ice cream and bakery Limitation: Presently its use in the dye industry is
products. It is also used in floor-wax, furniture, shoe- superseded by chemical dyes. The orange-red color
polish, nail gloss, brass lacquer, wood stain, hair oil, lip- was once extensively used. Demand is once again
stick and soap (Singh, et al., 1983). The dye is used to increasing due to the carcinogenic reports on the use
paint the body as a decoration, and when used this of certain chemical colors and other substances.
way, it is believed to repel insects.
Varietal differences: Cayenne achiote is considered
Use of achiote in the fabric industry: For dyeing to be richest in coloring matter, with 10 to 12 percent of
cotton, achiote is dissolved in boiling water and a pure dye and about 5 percent ash. In the achiote from
solution of carbonate of soda. The cloth is soaked in it Bengal the coloring matter is only about 6 percent
for about 20 minutes, then squeezed dry and washed (Brown 1921). People on Guam prefer seeds from
in acidulated water or alum solution and dried in the plants with small leaves and pods.
shade.
Extraction: The dye is extracted from seeds by
For dyeing silk, asolution is made of equal proportions soaking them in water and squeezing to dissolve the
(by volume) of achiote and sodium carbonate in water aril (on the outer surface of the seed), which contains
(soap is usually added). The dyeing is continued at 50° the dye. It is only partially soluble in water and pro-
C for about an hour (longer duration gives a darker duces a turbid solution. The solution of bixin is heat
color). The color can be made more yellow by passing concentrated and cooled to form red crystals.
the fabric through a weak solution of tartaric acid.
An old method of preparing the dye (Perkin and
Wool is dyed at 80 to 1ooo C in the water solution of Everest, 1918), is to thresh out of the mature fruits,
achiote, without addition of other compounds. collect the seeds, macerate them with water and leave
The dye resists degradation by soap and dilute acids the mixture to ferment. The product is strained through
(Brown 1921). a sieve and the coloring matter that settles out is
collected, partially evaporated by heat, then placed in
Other products of interest from this plant are the fibers boxes and sun dried. This product is called annatto; it
extracted from the bark, which can be used for cordage, is used in dyeing and in the 'Calico printing' industry
and gum, which is similar to gum arabic. The wood (Brown, 1921).
from the aged tree makes good firewood. Fire can be
created by rubbing the wood. Bulls are fed with extract Another method for the preparation of the dye without
from achiote before the bull fight, to give extra strength fermentation, ip to wash the pulp out of the capsules
and energy. The seeds and leaves have been used as and the seeds and then concentrate the extract by
a domestic medicine. drying. This product is called 'bixin' and prized 5 to 6
times more than annatto (Brown, 1921 ).
Marketing: Achiote is sold as dried whole seeds or as Merrill D. Elmer. (1981). Plant life of the Pacific world.
powdered seeds for use in the preparation of traditional Charles E. Tuttle Co. Rutland. 297 pp.
food. For industrial use it is sold as cakes. According Moore, P. H. and P. D. Me Makin. (1979). Plants of
to Brooks (191 0) the annatto supply used in the United Guam. University of Guam, College of Agriculture
States was mostly grown in West Indies. and Life Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service.
135 pp. .
Import: Presently Guam imports achiote from the Neal, C. Marie. (1965).1n Gardens of Hawaii. Bernice
Philippines as seed. Imported material has less color P. Bishop Musium, Special Publication,5.Q. 924
compared to the local cultivars, and 3 to 4 times the pp.
quantity of seed has to be used for coloring the same Perkin, A. G. and E. A. Everest. (1918). Natural organic
quantity of rice. coloring matters 609 to 613 pp. In Brown (1921 ).
Purseglove, J. W. (1976) Tropical Dicotyledons.
Longman New York. 719 pp.
Russo, V., G. Beaver, F. Cruz and H. Rubin. (1985).
References Plant pathogens and associated hosts on Guam.
A. E.S. Technical report, No. 46. 33 pp.
Singh, U., A.M. Wadhwani and B. M. Johri. (1983).
Bailey, H. L. (1963). The Standard Encyclopedia of Dictionary of Economic Plants in India. I.C.A.R.
Horticulture. Macmillan Co. New York. 510 pp. New Delhi, India. 30 pp.
Bailey,H.L. (1977). Hortus.Third. MacmillanCo.New Sproat, M. N. (1968). A guide to subsistence
York.165 pp. agriculture, Micronesia. Agriculture Extension
Brooks, B.T. (1910). The natural dyes and coloring Bulletin No. 9: 1-112.
matter of the Philipines Philippines Journal of Stone, B. C. (1970). The flora of Guam. Micronesica
Science, ~ 443 pp. Vol. 6: 1-659.
Brown, H. W. (1921). Minor products of the Stout, Oliver 0. (1982). Plant Quarantine Guidelines
Philippines forests. Vol. II, Bureau of Forestry, within the Pacific Region. UNDP, FAO-SPEC.
Manila. Bulletin No. 22: 401 to 402 pp.
Cook, A. A. (1975). Diseases of Tropical and subtropi-
cal fruits and nuts. Hafner Press, New
York. 317 pp
Everest, H. T. (1981 ). The New York Botanical Garden
Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horticulture. Vol. 2:
223 to 227 pp.
Fosberg, F. R., Marie-Helene Sachet and Royce Oliver.
(1979). A geographical checklist of Micronesian
Dicotyledonae Micronesica, Vol.15 (1 & 2) 41 to
295 pp.
Gardner (1912). Allan's commercial organic analysis
4th. edition. Y._. 421 pp. In Brown (1921).
Little, Jr. L. Elbert and Wordsworth H. Frank. (1964).
Common trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Is
lands. U.S. D. A. Forest Service, Agriculture
Hand Book No. 249. 548 pp.
 (i)

Achlota. BID 211.llma L: (a) flowering branch, (b) a branch with fruits, (c) flower bud, (d) open flower, (e) cross·sectlon of the flower,
(f) calyx, ovary and base of the style, (g) round fruit, (h) conical fruit (I) cross section of r9und fruit, 0) seeds,
(k) anthers two views, (I) stigma. (Bailey, 1977, Sproat, 1968)
 Acknowledgement

The author is thankful to the Acting Dean, Mr. Jose T. Barcinas, College of Agriculture and
Life Sciences, University of Guam for the encouragement given, Dr. Jefren l. Demeterio,
Associate Director, Agricultural Experiment Station for the support and positive reinforcement
during the preparation of this report. Dr. Albert l. Williams, of the Micronesian Area Research
Center, for improving the presentation. Drs. George C. Wall and lise Schreiner for advice on
diseases and pests. Most important of all for the advice and improvement of the report by the
review team members, Drs. Lynn Raulerson, Donald Nafus, George Wall and Dr. Farouq Abawi
of the University of Guam

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