scored 83/100
Also known as achiote, bixa orellana, achiote seed, urucum
Annatto (achiote) seeds are the brick-red seeds of Bixa orellana, prized for the carotenoid pigment bixin used as a natural food colorant.
0.7 g net carbs after fiber.
Representative amounts for this food, not measured for this item. Real content varies widely by variety, ripeness and storage.
These are the scored components, not a sum: the published score also reflects normalisation across the catalog, so the parts above will not add to 83.
Annatto seeds are the vivid brick-red seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa orellana), native to tropical regions of the Americas and central to Latin American, Caribbean, and Filipino cooking. Their intense color comes from apocarotenoids in the seed coat, principally bixin (fat-soluble) and its derivative norbixin (water-soluble), which together account for over 80% of the seed's pigments and are among the most widely used natural colorants for cheese, butter, rice, and sauces. Beyond pigment, annatto seeds supply tocotrienols (a vitamin E family), fiber, and modest minerals, and carry an earthy, faintly peppery and nutty flavor. They are most often steeped in warm oil or lard to extract color and aroma, then strained, rather than eaten whole. The carotenoids provide antioxidant activity that complements their culinary dye function. Compositional figures are best-estimate, as USDA does not publish a complete profile for the raw seed.
Bixin and norbixin quench singlet oxygen and scavenge free radicals, protecting lipids from peroxidation
Annatto is a rare concentrated source of delta- and gamma-tocotrienols, which support antioxidant defense and lipid metabolism
Annatto's pigments and tocotrienols have no circadian dependency.
Fasting-compatible
Consumed as a colorant in tiny amounts; fasting-compatible.
Per 100 g of the default form. Bars show how much higher or lower annatto seed is than the average across 76 peer foods in this category. Green means a favorable direction; amber means the opposite.
Annatto Seed is classified as a herbs & spices. Annatto (achiote) seeds are the brick-red seeds of Bixa orellana, prized for the carotenoid pigment bixin used as a natural food colorant.
Annatto Seed scores 83/100 in Formulate, making it a great choice. Its strongest contributions come from Manganese, Copper, Iron. The score blends nutrient density, fiber, healthy fats, protein quality, bioactive compounds, and glycemic impact.
Not particularly. A 2 g serving provides about 0.3 g of protein (~1% of the 50 g daily value).
Not really. A 2 g serving provides about 0.6 g of fiber (~2% of the 28 g daily value).
Yes — it fits comfortably in most keto plans. A 2 g serving has about 0.7 g of net carbs (1.4 g total minus 0.6 g fiber).
Best any time of day. Annatto's pigments and tocotrienols have no circadian dependency.
A typical serving is around 2 g (~7 kcal), based on the FDA's Reference Amount Customarily Consumed for this food category. There's no fixed daily target — most adults benefit from rotating annatto seed alongside several other herbs & spices sources.
Annatto Seed pairs nicely with: Steep in warm oil or fat because bixin is fat-soluble; the infused oil carries both color and antioxidants into the dish; Pair with rice and beans as in traditional Latin American cooking where it colors and lightly flavors the staple base.
Encyclopedia entries that supply the same signature nutrients annatto seed contributes. Click through to see clinical dose ranges, evidence quality, and bioavailable forms.
These are the nutrients annatto seedcontributes meaningfully toward (≥10% DV per 100 g serving). Click one to see what it does in the body, which supplements concentrate it, and which other foods are top sources.