Annatto powder is perfect for the home cheesemaker who wants to make authentic English cheddars or perhaps an original cheese with a flashy neon rind the color of a carving pumpkin.

Also known as achiote powder, annatto seeds grow inside the spiny fruits of the achiote tree. Annatto powders primary use through history has been as a coloring agent for makeup, textiles, or to color foods. In particular, many kinds of cheese use annatto powder to achieve orange or red colors such as Mimolette, Red Leicester, and Cheddar.