Annato Dye: useful properties and harm

The exotic dye annato, in the industry known as the food additive E160b, is a natural natural ingredient. Even without realizing it, people eat food every day with its content. What is his harm and is there any benefit from it?

Tropical bicha scrub

Annato is obtained from the seeds of a tropical beryx beetroot plant. This is a bush bush family with large bright leaves and pink flowers with many stamens. It blossoms only one day, after which a fruit is formed - a bright red box with seeds.

After ripening, the capsule is opened, discarding seeds for sowing. The native land of the plant is South America, and its name was received by the name of the traveler who opened the Amazon - Francisco de Orellana. Now the plant is cultivated in many countries of Asia, Africa, in the tropical climate.

Usage history

Even in the time of the ancient Indian tribes, the seeds began to be used as a paint. The Indians painted themselves a battle paint to intimidate the enemy from another tribe, as well as to protect themselves from insects and sunlight. It is not for nothing that the bixa of the oreall has several names, and one of them is a fondant tree. Since ancient times, all parts of the plant have been used. Native Americans used seeds not only as a paint. Their antibacterial effect was widely used in the treatment of infectious diseases and poisonings. Flower petals were treated with a headache. Leaves helped with burns, skin inflammations, and disinfected wounds. You can not use only the root of the bush, it is considered poisonous.

In the XVII century, annato seeds were brought to Europe, and since then they have been used as food coloring. Now it is added to food production in the countries of America, Asia, Europe, and also in Russia.

Colorants

The red seeds of the plant subsequently become the raw material for extracting the extract. From it, and turns out natural dye annato. Its color varies from yellow to orange, but under the influence of high temperatures it can give both pink and red shades. This is its property to change color when changing temperature is very convenient and often used in industry.

What determines the coloring properties of plants? This content in it of pigments of two types - bixin and norbixin. Bixin is a fat-soluble pigment, is produced in liquid form and is used in the dairy industry. Norbixin dissolves in water and has the form of a powder. Applied it as in the food industry - in the manufacture of beverages, bread, and in other industries: the production of textiles, cosmetics, medicines.

Annato in Cheese Making

The most common application of annato in the production of cheeses. It is he who gives such an appetizing yellow color. The dye for annato cheese is added to the milk at an early stage of cooking. This gives the right color to the future cheese. This is especially true in the winter, when cows receive an insufficient amount of fresh plant food. Which leads to a decrease in pigment content in milk and affects the color of the cheese - without the dye it would be an unusual pale color.

Than it is convenient annato in the preparation of cheese - it does not change color for all the time of its maturation. The dosage depends on the type of cheese, because some must 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, due to its antibacterial and antioxidant properties. In addition, it gives the product a specific taste, reminiscent of nutmeg.

Other applications

Annato dye is widely used for making dairy products - yoghurt, 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, coloring dairy desserts - puddings, soufflé. Use it in baking. The scope of its use includes the production of alcoholic beverages. Some of them require a bright saturated color, for example, liqueurs, with which the dye is easy to handle. Here, Norbixin is used - a water-soluble pigment in the form of a powder.

E160b is used not only in the food industry. They paint fabrics, such as silk, cotton, wool. Used in pharmaceuticals to give color to tablets and ointments. And even some cosmetics can contain in their composition annatto, for example, lipstick or blush.

Annato in Cooking

In many Asian countries, Annato's food color is used to make fish and smoked meat, mainly pork or poultry. In addition to the attractive color, it also performs the role of spice and preservative. With it marinades for meat, sauces are made, rice, beans, dishes from vegetables: tomatoes, pepper are added. It is similar in its properties with seasoning curcumin, which is especially often used in the eastern kitchen. Therefore, in any dishes in which it is used, it can be replaced with an annato dye. Curcumin - seasoning with a bright yellow saturated color, it is obtained by extracting the extract from the root of turmeric.

Annato seeds are used in a crushed form as a seasoning. You can also insist them in hot water, and the resulting infusion 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 frying pan, and continue to prepare the dish on the tinted oil.

Useful dye

Annato is known as the "E160b Food Color", which does not inspire confidence in most consumers, but this is completely in vain. Annato's 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 annato, which neutralize oxidation processes, which favorably affects the skin condition. Annato is quite a calorie, but since its content in foods is negligible, this should not cause concern. In addition, that annatto gives a bright color and a piquant taste to food, it has a number of health benefits. In some countries it is used to treat diseases of the stomach, kidneys, infectious diseases, treat smallpox, measles, vomiting, diarrhea. Applied as a diuretic. 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 an anti-inflammatory effect on rheumatism.

Is there any harm from annato?

Annato E160b colorant is a safe food additive. It is approved for use in Russia and many other countries in Europe, Asia and America. But still, due to the distrust in the society about the additives with the index E, the consumer asks the question about what an annato dye is, whether it is harmful. The only contraindication to the use of this substance is hypersensitivity to the constituents of the dye. It can cause an allergic reaction in people who are prone to such ailment. But this is extremely rare cases, so we can say that the annato dye does not harm.