🏜️🔴COCHINEAL POLL🔴🏜️
- Covered in wax to protect from ☀️ 11
- Have carminic acid = red hemolymph🩸 7
- ♀️♀️ dried for brilliant red color🔴 6
- Used as natural coloring in 🍨🎨👚 5
The cochineal is a tiny, cactus-loving insect deeply rooted in the history of Oaxaca, Mexico. After cochineals die, their legacy lives on. What fascinates you the most about this bug?
Cochineal nymphs secrete a protective waxy substance to shield themselves from the hot sun. (Josh Cassidy/KQED)
The cochineal produces a deep crimson substance called carminic acid, which is found in its hemolymph, a fluid equivalent to blood. (Josh Cassidy/KQED)
Cochineal is spread out in the sun to dry before being ground into dye. (Josh Cassidy/KQED)
Cochineal dye can be found in your food. It is often labeled as carmine, cochineal extract, E120 or natural red 4. (Josh Cassidy/KQED)
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