Annatto Organic Dye: Oranges, Red-yellows, Salmon

Annatto is famous for its use in South American cuisine as a flavoring and as a food coloring. Margarine, butter, custard, and other foods often have annatto added to achieve their yellow color.

In the 16th century, Annatto was used by the Aztecs to paint manuscripts.

The Achiote (Bixa orellana L.) is also known as the “lipstick” tree in Central and South America, as its color is added to, you guessed it, lipstick. The tree produces a stiff, hair covered fruit which, when opened, contains seeds covered in a red-orange pulp. Annatto is derived from the pulp and not the seed.

Colors produced from Annatto include a variety of oranges, reddish yellows, and salmon.

At this time, all Pure Tinctoria dyes are in the process of receiving Global Organic Textile Standard certification. We will update as each dye is officially approved. Annatto has been certified organic as has Oak Gall, Madder, Cutch, and Myrobalan.

Sold in 10 g packets.

25 g of extract will dye approximately 1 pound of fiber.

Image by Rigues

Natural Dyeing Resources

Using Pure Tinctoria Dyes Download (pdf)