This one plant has a special place in my heart, as this Rambutan look alike plant fruit was one of the first plants that introduced me to the world of foraging.
It was in 2018, the first time I started to get to know this plant, when me and a friend took our bicycles for a recreational ride from the city of Yogyakarta to Sermo Reservoir. After passing the vast expanse of rice fields in Nanggulan, Kulon Progo, the uphilling terrains became more frequent for us to encounter, making us to push our bikes and slowing our paces. It was on one of these moments when my friend pointed at this plant that we both didn’t recognize. We were curious at this red hairy rambutan look alike, but also suspicious -thinking the plant might be poisonous behind its striking fruit appearance- so we only took its photo to investigate further when we got home from our little adventure.
Our suspicions were apparently wrong, this plant is commonly used as natural colorant in food and textile industry, for condiment, and in cosmetics. If you go to the nearest convenience stores near you, you can see annatto (red/orange/yellow pigment from achiote tree) is listed in ingredients of some snacks.
Bixa orellana or known in Indonesia as Kesumba Keling is grown in area with tropical and subtropical climates throughout the world, from Asia continent to the Americas. In Special Region of Yogyakarta, I rarely find this plant, so when I got the fruit of this plant, I sowed the seeds and shared the seedlings to friends who could grow them or would like to utilize achiote tree.
Characteristics
Achiote is a perennial small tree, but can also grow up to 10 meters with green leaves in heart-shaped form. The tree bear heart-shaped fruits, also known as the pods, with stiff hairs on the outer surface. The pods are green when young, but turn red to dark brown and will split open, looking like a bird’s beak as they mature. The seeds on the inside have red waxy coating, with mild peppery smell.
Uses
The seeds from the red pods are the most commonly used part for condiments and food coloring in Central to South part of America, and Asian countries such as Philipines and Vietnam. The colouring in cheese and margarine is also reported to be sourced from this plant.
The seeds of achiote are potential source of antioxidant and contain antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Some sources say, they can help with wound healing, reduce inflammation, and help protecting against UV rays. For utilization in cosmetics, the seeds are processed into mask powder, salve, or soap. Traditionally the natives of South America use Achiote for body paint, and makeup thus, it is also known as lipstick tree. The Mayans and Aztecs also use this plant in rituals, as the simbolization of blood.
On several occasions, I used the seeds I received from friends’ achiote plants that I had sown for them, to make soaps. I extract the seeds properties in coconut oil by using the hot infusion method. When used in the cold-processed soap making, it gives orange colour to the soaps, that doesn’t fade due to the saponification process.
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