ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Bixa orellana

Bixa orellana is a special plant that comes from tropical countries. It has a very important part that people like to use for many different things. This part is called the "annatto seed" and it is really interesting because it can make things look yellow or orange.

People have been using annatto seeds for a very long time, even before they had fancy machines to make things colorful. They would use the seeds to dye clothes, paint their faces, and even color their food.

When people want to use annatto seeds to color their food, they have to do a few special things first. They have to dry the seeds, grind them up, and then mix them with something like oil, water, or vinegar. This mixture is called "annatto extract."

Annatto extract can be used to color many different foods like cheese, margarine, and even some types of chocolate. Sometimes it's even used to color lipstick or other makeup.

People really like bixa orellana because it's a good way to make things look pretty and colorful without using any artificial ingredients. Plus, it's a special plant that only grows in some parts of the world, so it's like having a secret ingredient in your food!