Achiote paste, a staple in Mexican cuisine, is renowned for its ability to add vibrant color and rich, earthy flavors to a wide array of dishes. This versatile ingredient is derived from annatto seeds and commonly combined with spices to create a luscious paste perfect for marinating and seasoning. With several brands offering unique blends, it can be challenging to choose the right achiote paste to suit your culinary needs. For those looking to explore the best options available, we invite you to discover some top recommendations listed below.
Illustration of achiote paste
Best brands of achiote paste in 2025
El Yucateco
El Yucateco, established in 1968, is a renowned Mexican company that produces high-quality achiote paste, using annatto seeds grown in the Yucatan Peninsula. With a 22% concentration of annatto seed in their 100g paste, along with other spices and herbs, it becomes a popular choice for traditional dishes and marinades, bringing a unique, earthy flavor and vibrant red color to meals. It is used to make authentic dishes like cochinita pibil.
La Anita
La Anita, founded in 1913 in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, is a leading producer of achiote paste, a traditional Mayan spice made from annatto seeds, renowned for adding a distinct red color and earthy flavor to dishes like cochinita pibil and tacos al pastor. The paste typically includes ingredients like corn flour, spices, and salt, with some variations containing food colorings such as Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Blue No. 1. La Anita's achiote paste is often used as a marinade or seasoning and comes in various sizes including 100g, 110g, and 1kg options. Having expanded internationally since 1990, it is a popular choice for authentic Mexican cuisine.
Doña Maria
Doña Maria, a brand with over 80 years of history, is a favorite in Mexico, renowned for its rich and flavorful mole pastes and also for its achiote paste, which is essential for authentic Yucatecan dishes like Cochinita Pibil. Their achiote paste, made from a vibrant blend of spices and annatto seeds, brings the taste of the Yucatán Peninsula to your kitchen, and while specific market share percentages are not available, the brand is widely recognized for its quality and traditional flavor, often used to marinate meats such as pork, chicken, or beef. This paste can be diluted with vinegar or other liquids for easy preparation.
Goya
Goya, a popular brand established in 1936, is well-regarded for its achiote paste, often sold in 3.5 oz packages, which is a key ingredient in Latin American cuisine providing both rich color and flavor derived from annatto seeds; their product is gluten-free and can be used for various dishes such as meat, poultry, fish, and soups; Goya's achiote paste is also available in a 10.25oz size called Achiotina, and they also offer Sazon Goya with culantro and achiote, showcasing a versatile range of annatto products; customer reviews for their achiote paste average around 4 out of 5 stars on platforms such as Amazon, showing general consumer satisfaction with the quality of the product.
La Meridana
La Meridana, a family business founded in 2006 in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, honors the region's women by producing high-quality achiote paste using habanero peppers grown on their land, though they are better known for their hot sauces; while not explicitly stated as the best, they are a respected producer, focusing on traditional methods and flavors; the main ingredient in their products, the habanero pepper, is hand-harvested by indigenous women; although the exact percentage of annatto seeds is not specified, their achiote paste is a key ingredient in many traditional Yucatecan dishes, and the company also makes a variety of other products. You can explore their products on their website.
Mexene
While Mexene is renowned for its chili powder, particularly in Texas, it does not appear to be a primary producer of achiote paste, although some retailers do sell their chili powder along with other brands of achiote paste. Achiote paste, often used in Mexican, Central American, and Caribbean cuisine, is made from annatto seeds and other spices, and is valued for its vibrant color and earthy flavor, with brands like El Yucateco offering 100g packages of the paste containing around 22% annatto seeds, spices, and preservatives. You can explore various brands of achiote paste at retailers like Amazon, and for Mexene products, specifically their chili powder, visit their official website.
McCormick
McCormick, a well-known brand, offers a seasoned achiote paste, crafted from ground annatto seeds, which are also known as achiote seeds, and a blend of spices, garlic, and crushed chiles, providing a distinctive yellow-orange color and rich flavor for marinades, with the convenience of sodium benzoate as a preservative. While the exact percentage of annatto seeds is not specified, McCormick ensures quality by carefully selecting the seeds for color and flavor. The paste is versatile for various dishes like chicken, pork, seafood, and even tamale dough, and is available in a 3.5 oz container. You can find more information about this seasoned achiote paste.
Mama Lycha
Mama Lycha is recognized as a top producer of achiote paste, a staple in Latin American cuisine, offering both vibrant color and a unique, earthy flavor derived from annatto seeds; while they also produce ground achiote, the brand is particularly known for their convenient and flavorful paste, which is available in 4 oz and 12.5 lb pack sizes, making it ideal for both home cooks and commercial kitchens. Though exact market share data is difficult to ascertain, Mama Lycha has established itself as a trusted brand, with availability in various grocery stores and online retailers, solidifying its position as a go-to option for those seeking authentic achiote paste and other Latin American food products since its establishment. The brand offers both paste and ground achiote in 4oz packages with product number 763441000151, and it also sells a 12/4oz achiote powder.
El Mexicano
El Mexicano, a brand by Marquez Brothers International, has been producing high-quality achiote paste since 1981, using a blend of annatto seeds, spices, and other ingredients to create a flavorful seasoning, with approximately 560mg of sodium per ounce. This paste is often used in traditional Mexican and Mayan cuisine, such as cochinita pibil, offering a convenient way to add an authentic taste with a high degree of moisture. Many customers have given positive reviews, noting its exceptional flavor and quality. It is available in a 3.5 oz size, making it a popular choice for home cooks.
San Angel
San Angel is a premier producer of achiote paste, celebrated for its authentic flavor derived from annatto seeds and a blend of traditional spices like cumin, cloves, and oregano; this paste is a key ingredient in Yucatecan cuisine, often used in dishes like cochinita pibil, a slow-roasted pork dish where it infuses a vibrant red color and earthy taste. The paste, typically made with a base of annatto seeds, water, and cornflour, offers a convenient way to achieve the characteristic taste and color of dishes from the Yucatan peninsula, with its use dating back centuries, originating with Mayan culture. You can find more information about their products at various online retailers or purchase it directly from MexGrocer.
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