Crossword clues for annatto
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Annotto \An*not"to\ ([a^]n*n[o^]t"t[-o]), Arnotto \Ar*not"to\ ([aum]r*n[o^]t"t[-o]), n. [Perh. the native name.] A red or yellowish-red dyeing material, prepared from the pulp surrounding the seeds of a tree ( Bixa orellana) belonging to the tropical regions of America. It is used for coloring cheese, butter, etc. [Written also Anatto, Anatta, Annatto, Annotta, etc.]
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context countable English) A tropical American evergreen shrub, ''Bixa orellana''; the lipstick tree; the fruit of the tree. 2 (context uncountable English) The seed of this tree used as a colouring or in Latin American cooking. 3 (context uncountable English) An orange-red dye obtained from this seed.
Wikipedia
Annatto ( or ) is an orange-red condiment and food coloring derived from the seeds of the achiote tree ( Bixa orellana). It is often used to impart a yellow or orange color to foods, but sometimes also for its flavor and aroma. Its scent is described as "slightly peppery with a hint of nutmeg" and flavor as "slightly nutty, sweet and peppery".
The color of annatto comes from various carotenoid pigments, mainly bixin and norbixin, found in the reddish waxy coating of the seeds. The condiment is typically prepared by grinding the seeds to a powder or paste. Similar effects can be obtained by extracting some of the color and flavor principles from the seeds with hot water, oil, or lard, which are then added to the food.
Annatto and its extracts are now widely used in an artisanal or industrial scale as a coloring agent in many processed food products, such as cheeses, dairy spreads, butter and margarine, custards, cakes and other baked goods, potatoes, snack foods, breakfast cereals, smoked fish, sausages, and more. In these uses, annatto is a natural alternative to synthetic food coloring compounds, but it has been linked to cases of food-related allergies. Annatto is of particular commercial value in the United States because the Food and Drug Administration considers colorants derived from it to be " exempt of certification".
Usage examples of "annatto".
She had lovely hands, Jill thought, slender and graceful, with long fingernails that had been stained a tasteful orange-red with annatto seeds and polished to such a glossy perfection that Jill found herself hiding her own calloused fingers and bitten nails in her lap.