Annatto, sometimes called roucou or achiote, is as red and hairy as a rambutan. But it has a heart shaped instead of the oval shaped rambutan.
When fully mature, this heart-shaped fruit are brown or reddish brown and are covered with short, stiff hairs. The fruit will split open, exposing the numerous dark red seeds. And unlike the rambutan, the fruit itself is not edible.
The orange-red pulp or pericarp that covers the seed of the achiote (Bixa orellana L.) is used to produce a yellow to orange food commercial food colouring as well as a flavouring. Achiote dye is prepared by grinding seeds or simmering the seeds in water or oil.
It is used as coloring in many cheeses (e.g., Cheddar, Gloucester cheese, Red Leicester, Gouda and Brie), margarine, butter, rice, custard powder, ice-cream, and smoked fish.
Bewarned though, although it is a natural food colorant, it has been linked to cases of food-related allergies.
Wiki says that its scent is described as "slightly peppery with a hint of nutmeg" and flavor as "slightly nutty, sweet and peppery".
Other uses include body paint and lipstick and henna. Thus the tree is sometimes called Lipstick Tree.
The Bahasa Melayu of Bixa Orellana is also known as Inai / Kesumba/ Jarak Belanda/ Kunyit Jawa.
In the Philippines, it is called atsuete.
Source: Wiki
Location:
Pulau Ubin, Singapore
The Outdoor Classroom located along Route 1 of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore
