Do You Know Carmine?

No, the other carmine. The carmine color that comes from an insect called
Cochineal. It's binomial name is Dactylopius coccus.

We use this color called 'carmine' (from the insect) and use it for a lot of
things, but I like it best as a natural food coloring. (Does anyone remember the
health dangers of red #5?) It's used as a dye in many parts of the world (it's
why we call the British 'red coats') and in cosmetics, candies and foods.

I spent the morning harvesting Cochineal off of prickly pear cactus.

It's actually a scale type insect, like you'd find in your garden, and it uses
the prickly pear cactus as it's host. It just looks like a cottony bit of fuzz
located between the needles. Pick it out and squish it between your fingers and
you'll get a carmine colored stain. The stain is caused by carminic acid, which
helps to deter predation by other insects and birds.

I harvest the bits of fluff and now I'll dry them. I'll reconstitute them in
water to use at Easter or in cooking whenever I want to add a red to pink touch
of color.

If you get the chance to read up on the history of this little insect, you
should. It's fascinating.