Safflower, also called Chimichanga, Beni, Sallflower and Carthamine, is a member
of the sunflower family primarily grown for its seed.
The plant is also used to
flavor soft drinks, most notably the orange soda marketed as Sunkist.
Safflower
is the source of a natural dye dubbed CI Natural Red 26, although the colors
olive, mustard, khaki, yellow and even purple and bright red with an alkaline
mordant. The term “red tape” that means delay due to bureaucratic rules and
procedures, comes from the fact that safflower dye was once used to produce a
red binding once commonly used to seal important documents.
