Week #20 | A very pampered bush

I love going back to the past, reliving it, I love seeing how far I've come, everything I've been able to do, and everything I still have left to do without losing my essence.

This week marks week 20 of this wonderful experience. After carefully reading the community rules, I decided to start writing again. I was inspired by a plant that isn't very big. It goes unnoticed at my workplace, and I feel like it's a lot like me. It doesn't like to draw attention to itself, but this month its flowers begin to adorn many spaces, and then that oval shape appears, signaling the arrival of that great ingredient that gives Christmas its flavor. I say it gives Christmas color and flavor because it is used in our delicious hallacas, a typical Christmas dish. It serves to add color, and in some culinary preparations, it is the king of our kitchen.

Onoto or achiote is used to color food. Simply put oil in a container, add the onoto, and heat over medium heat to release its color, which magically stains our hands and everything it touches. I remember my grandmother coloring the dough for our hallacas. My grandmother also said that its leaves could be used to make infusions that helped with asthma, but I don't dare take anything without a prescription.

Its flower can inspire us to write a beautiful poem. Its flowers are exotic, and I love to admire them during my break. They seem to stare at us and even transmit good vibes. After lunch, my grandmother would prepare her achiote tea, which she believed was the best remedy for gas. She also said it reduced inflammation.

My family and coworkers associate me with this shrub. I don't mind going out and watering it, removing its dry leaves. I see it as both strong and fragile at the same time, and the green of its leaves is a sign of its vitality. I am posting this to raise awareness about this plant. It is very mysterious. It looks compact, like a heart, and then it opens up, revealing miniature seeds that change color from brown to orange to reddish. It is definitely a natural pigment.

We have this plant in our workplace because it repels insects. We have quails on our land, and this plant has the great characteristic of being a powerful antioxidant, but I insist that you should only consume it on the recommendation of a medical professional.

That's all for now. This is my review of my favorite plant, my great friend in my moments of total surrender to nature. My great confidant.

Until next time. I invite my friends @sacra97 and @aurodivys

All images are my property. Translator used: DeepL. My signature created with Canva.