Bixa orelleana The dye bixen obtained from the seeds is used all over the world as a red-orange dye for coloring rice, cheeses, soft drinks, oil, butter, margarine, and soups. It is also used as a dye for textiles and as a condiment (annatto/achiote). It is the original Amerindian warpaint. It has also been used as sunscreen and insect repellent. The red covering on Gouda and many other cheeses is made from bixen. It also has many medicinal uses.