Annatto Seed Powder

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Botanical

Skin Benefit

Natural pigment from achiote seed. Gives Ritual Ember its warm amber tone, earthy and expressive.

Spiritual Benefit

Used in Indigenous Mesoamerican body and skin paint for ceremony and sun protection; mineral-pigmented across the Americas.

The record

In use for 2,000+ years

Origin

The achiote tree of the Amazon and the Caribbean lowlands.

Harvested

The spiny pods are split open by hand and the red seeds ground into powder.

Cultural impact

Body paint of the Maya and peoples of the Amazon, lipstick tree of the Caribbean. Annatto colored skin for ceremony, protection, and beauty across the tropics of the Americas.

Traditional use

Painted on the body for ritual and sun protection, and used to warm skin preparations with its earthy red.

From the Field Notes

All field notes