Ingredient guide
Achiote
achiote · also known in English as annatto
A field profile of achiote, the seed-coating ingredient with a documented biocultural connection to the Yucatán Peninsula.
Identity at a glance
- Biological name
- Bixa orellana
- Plant family
- Bixaceae
- Part used
- seed coating
- Documented place connection
- Yucatán Peninsula: Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo
What this ingredient is
Achiote is Bixa orellana. The red-orange condiment and coloring material comes from the coating around its seeds. “Annatto” is an accepted English common name.
Where it belongs
The Yucatán Peninsula has a strong biocultural connection to achiote across Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo. That does not mean the plant belongs exclusively to the peninsula.
What to notice in local food
Look for achiote in established market and cooking contexts, and notice how the ingredient connects color, aroma, and regional dishes back to the seed coating itself.
Sources and further reading
- Bixa orellana species recordCONABIO EncicloVida
- Genetic resources of annatto in MexicoPeer-reviewed research archive
Facts reviewed July 27, 2026. Source links lead to the underlying Spanish- or English-language records.