ANNATTO (Bixa orellana): Asian, African, Central American and Caribbean tropical plant.
Dye chemical: bixin, found in the seed glands that provide a bright golden yellow dyestuff used as a food coloring and cosmetics centuries before Europeans arrived in the New World. Amazonian natives use a paste of annatto and grease for brilliant red body paint.
Good color on wool, silk, lighter colors on linen and cotton, not very light-fast. Alkali brings out best colors, alcohol helps stabilize color results.
AKA: Achiote, anato, annato, arnatto, bixa, bixi, bixin, bixina, flag annato, lipstick tree, nankeen, orlean, otter; Spanish annato, urucu, [OE] anatto, annotto, arnotto, annattotree, [Thai] khamsaed, [Fr] rocou, roucou, [Sp] achiote, [Aztec] achiotl, [Ind] sinduria. [Mexico]
Amount: 2oz
Results:
Alum mordant with oxalic acid or tartaric acid: golden yellow
Copper mordant: yellow ochre
Iron mordant: brown
Tin mordant: orange.
