Bixa

Where does Bixa grow?

Found in: Africa, Amazon, Andamans, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Fiji, Galapagos, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marianas, Marquesas, Mexico, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South America, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Notes: The plant is often used for face and body painting. There is only one Bixa species. It has anticancer and antioxidant properties.

Status: It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.

Growing Bixa

Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. Semi-ripe cuttings are used.

Edible Uses: The seeds are fried gently and used as a food colouring. It colours butter, margarine, cheese, chocolate. It is ground and used as a spice (Annatto) in South America.

Production: It flowers and fruits throughout the year in Papua New Guinea. Plants grown from cuttings tend to flower at a younger age.

Nutrition Info

Bixa Photos

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