Why Should You Have A Jar Of Annatto Seeds In Your House?

Annatto Seeds are South American miracle seeds that have been used in foods – in the form of Achiote paste – for years now for their dying properties as well as for the faint characteristic flavor they impart…

But in the deep reaches of South America, these seeds are the miracle anti-bacterial that they use extensively in food as well as medicine!

We did say that these seeds are anti-bacterial. But that’s not where it ends! These seeds are a treasure trove of health benefits:

• Lowers cholesterol levels

• Boosts liver function and detoxification

• Works as an effective expectorant – to remove mucus – therefore effectve if you have cough, asthma and bronchitis.

• Keeps blood pressure in check

• Helps digestion and controls diarrhea

• Reduces edema

But besides these medicinal benefits – annatto leaves are also a great ingedient to have in your kitchen! It adds:

• A peppery taste to your foods

• A natural alternative to synthetic food coloring

• Some people even use it to replace saffron in their cooking!

• Seems like a jar of goodness to have lurking in your kitchen cabinet, you say?

• Well, read on to find out just how you can use them.

Now for the parts of the plant that are used

Basically the leaves of the plant and the seeds inside the red furry pods are used.

The leaves have anti-inflammatory qualitites and also mirror the anti-bacterial effects. However, unfortunately Annatto leaves aren’t so easy to come by outside of South America. The seeds prove a lot more resilient and are more easily available. And therefore, predictable – you too have access to just the seeds!

How do you prepare these seeds to get the most out of them?

There are two ways that you can prepare these seeds –

First up – the Annatto paste

Take a small sauce pan and add the 2 oz. of the seeds.

Cover with water and then bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 mins.

Now let it cool – and rest – for an hour.

Now just grind the seeds – use a bit of the water it soaked in if you need.

The other way – Annatto Oil – though this is mainly for color and flavor

Prepping Annatto seeds is quite easy – even if slightly time consuming… But the health and taste are worth the effort…

However, one thing that concerns a lot of people is – are the seeds I am about to buy not the genuine thing? Have they been dyed with color or contaminated in some way? And they’re quite right in worrying… The best idea is always to invest in a reputable brand – something like Angelina’s Gourmet Annatto Seeds24 oz. Jarsthat is quite reasonably priced!

The great thing about these beans that come in Angelina’s Gourmet product is that they are multipurpose! You could always make a paste with them and use it as a medicine… But then again, you could also just prepare them the usual way – in oil – and use the oil in your cooking… Annatto Seeds Why Should You Have A Jar Of Annatto Seeds In Your House?

Or just add a pinch of the powder to impart a lovely orangish-yellow shade to your cooking without using synthetic food color…

But whatever you do, anything you cook with it will also come with its surprisingly anti-bacterial, anti-cancerous as well as anti-oxidant effects!

#annattoseeds #medisinaal #annattooil