![]() Relatively low in sodium compared to most brands.Sandy texture makes it super easy to dissolve in liquid.Annatto is the main ingredient, above cornmeal and water.Overall, this is a solid supermarket choice. This brand of achiote paste is made in California, but the company was founded in the 1970s by a husband and wife who were originally from Yucatan, Mexico. La Perla contains much less sodium than El Yucateco, but we don’t love that it relies on FD&C Red #40 artificial food dye for coloring. This brand also uses corn meal (instead of corn flour) and much less water, creating a drier, crumblier block of achiote paste, which makes it much easier to dissolve in warm liquids – a big plus! It is less vinegary and smokier than El Yucateco, perhaps because annatto seeds are the #1 ingredient in this paste (as opposed to corn flour in El Yucateco) and it includes crushed chilies in the ingredients. La Perla achiote paste came in close second on our list of best achiote pastes. Uses sodium benzoate as a preservative, but all the brands we tested use thisīuy El Yucateco on Amazon #2.Dense and clay-like, which makes it harder to dissolve in water than crumblier brands.High in sodium – one 20 gram serving provides nearly 25% of the daily value.Contains more water and corn flour than annatto, by weight.Cuts smoothly into slices, isn’t messy to work with.Tastes earthy, smoky, and lightly bitter.Smells tart, vinegary, and slightly smoky.The sodium content is a little high, but the paste is typically used in relatively small quantities in recipes, so its overall contribution to each serving should be moderate. We also love that it doesn’t contain any artificial colorings, but still provides a bright pop of red color from the annatto seed. It’s one of the most authentic varieties we tested – made and imported directly from the Yucatan region of Mexico. It’s bright and vinegary, but the distinctive bitter-smoky achiote flavor shines through. El YucatecoĮl Yucateco achiote paste was the clear winner for best store-bought achiote paste. Scroll down for in-depth reviews of each. Here are our rankings for the best storebought achiote pastes: The achiote pastes were sold as solid bricks, wrapped in plastic, inside a cardboard box for packaging. We selected the five most popular achiote pastes available on Amazon and only reviewed Mexican-style pastes, not those from Central or South America. Price: How much does it cost per ounce?.Ease of use: How well did the product dissolve in warm water for cooking? Was it easy to handle? Or crumbly and messy?.Nutrition: Does the product contain high amounts of sodium?.Ingredients: Does the product actually contain a lot of annatto? Or is it mostly filler ingredients? Does the product rely on artificial dyes for color?.Taste: Which product had the richest taste when dissolved in water and when mixed with plain white rice?.Here are the qualities we evaluated when choosing the best achiote paste, in order of importance: It is also relatively inexpensive, making it an excellent option for people who frequently cook dishes such as tacos al pastor or cochinita pibil. Store-bought achiote paste is shelf-stable and can last up to two years if stored in a cool dark place. While you can make achiote paste from scratch at home, it is somewhat time-consuming and labor-intensive, so many people opt for store-bought varieties instead. It’s made by grinding whole achiote seeds with garlic, spices, and acidic ingredients such as vinegar or citrus juice until it forms a thick paste. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Recent Posts by Erica Julson, MS, RDN: What is achiote paste?Īchiote paste is a traditional ingredient in Mexican and Central American cuisine. ![]()
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