Description
Seeds of annatto (Bixa orellana), 100 g.
The seeds contain the lipid soluble dye bixin, a good dye for soapmakers who use only natural ingredients. Annatto dyes soap yellow to orange. Extract the dye in oil, e.g. by adding a teaspoon annatto seeds to a dL of olive oil and let it infuse for a couple of weeks or a month. Add a small amount of this infused oil to the soap at the end of the process.
There are historical examples of textile dyeing with annatto, but other red and yellow dyes such as madder and weld are much better suited for textile dyeing.
Annatto is also used as a food colorant. Please note that these seeds are sold as a dye, not for food use.
