Cochineal derivates are obtained from a pigment inside the bodies of the females of the cochineal insect Dactylopius Coccus Costa. The insects grow on cacti like the Nopales which are cultivated and harvested in Central and South America. Nowadays a large part of the cochineal comes from Peru where it grows in nature as well as on plantations due to the ideal climate of the country.
The pigment inside the insect bodies is called carminic acid. It is obtained through an aqueous extraction from the cochineal. Carminic acid is the purified form and when reacted with aluminum and calcium, carmine products are obtained. Carmine is an aluminum lake product.
For centuries this red colorant was used by Mayas and Incas for coloring textiles and was considered to be a very precious product. Nowadays the carminic acid and carmine products are used for coloring various food, beverage and cosmetic applications. The colorant is considered as one of the most stable among the natural colorants.
