Annatto, Annotto

These are the seeds of a small, flowering tree of tropical America, Bixa orellana. The Spanish name achiote is sometimes corrupted to achote. The seeds are also known as bija or bijol in some of the Spanish-speaking islands. In the French and Dutch islands they are called roucou. In the West Indies the orange pulp surrounding the seed is used to colour and flavour food, usually in the form of aceite or manteca de achiote (annatto oil or lard). In Latin America, especially in south-eastern Mexico and Guatemala, the whole seed is ground and used as a spice. Annatto is not available in Britain and is therefore omitted from the recipes.