Annatto Seed Extract

Annatto Seed Extract comes from the seeds of Bixa orellana, a shrub that many people in India know as the lipstick tree or sinduri. The waxy red coating around each seed has been used as a colour for centuries, first by indigenous communities in South and Central America and later by cheese makers, bakers and cosmetic formulators across the world.

Arizone International supplies Annatto Seed Extract from India to food manufacturers, colour blenders, cosmetic brands and nutraceutical companies. We work to your specification for pigment content, solubility and pack size.

What Is Annatto Seed Extract?

The colour in annatto sits in a thin resinous layer on the outside of the seed, not inside it. Processors wash or extract this layer to recover two main carotenoid pigments. Bixin is oil-soluble and gives a yellow to orange shade. Norbixin is its water-soluble form, produced by alkaline treatment, and is preferred for dairy and water-based systems.

In food labelling the colour is listed as annatto or E160b. Annatto seeds also contain tocotrienols, a form of vitamin E. Annatto is one of the few plant sources where tocotrienols occur almost without tocopherols, which is why the seed has become interesting to supplement formulators as well.

Bixa orellana grows well in the warm, humid parts of southern and eastern India. Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha all have plantations, and the seed is traded in dried form before extraction.

Forms We Can Supply

• Oil-Soluble Annatto (Bixin)Suitable for butter, margarine, snack seasonings, fat-based spreads and oil-based cosmetic products.
• Water-Soluble Annatto (Norbixin)Commonly used in cheese, custards, sauces, dairy desserts and beverages where an even colour in water is needed.
• Annatto Seed Powder ExtractA dry, free-flowing form for dry mixes, spice blends and capsule formulations.
• Tocotrienol-Rich FractionsAvailable on request for nutraceutical buyers, subject to specification and minimum order.

Applications of Annatto Seed Extract

Most buyers use annatto as a natural colour. The classic example is the deep orange of Cheddar and Red Leicester cheese, but the list is much longer:

• Cheese, butter and other dairy products
• Bakery fillings, biscuits and cake mixes
• Extruded snacks, popcorn and seasonings
• Sauces, soups, rice mixes and ready meals
• Meat and sausage casings
• Lip colours, tints and natural cosmetic products
• Soaps and hair-care products
• Dietary supplements based on tocotrienols

The final shade depends on dosage, the pH of the product, the fat content and how the colour is dispersed. We can share typical usage levels to help your R&D team run trials.

Things to Check Before You Order

Annatto colour strength is usually expressed as a percentage of bixin or norbixin. Tell us the target percentage, the base you want (oil, alkali solution, powder or emulsion) and the market where the product will be sold. Colour additive rules differ between India, the EU, the US and the Middle East, so the label and permitted use level should be checked for your destination.

Like other carotenoids, annatto pigments fade with light, heat and oxygen. Store the extract in closed containers in a cool, dark place, and keep the drum sealed between uses.

Why Buy From Arizone International?

We are a manufacturer, supplier and exporter of herbal extracts and natural ingredients based in India. For annatto, we can supply bulk quantities, prepare samples for colour matching and share a certificate of analysis, specification sheet and other documents your QA team needs. Private label and custom blends are also possible.

Send us your required pigment strength, quantity, packaging and delivery location, and our team will come back with a specification and quotation for Annatto Seed Extract.