Cochineal in Peru

For thousands of years people used natural dyes made from plants and minerals as well as this insect named COCHINEAL that grows parasitically on cactus plants. It produces a carmine deep red dye that is highly prized even until today. Peru is one of the worlds largest exporter of this dye. As it is non toxic it can also be used as lipstick to color the lips or as body paint. Taken from the cactus at this stage in its life cycle the insect looks like a a white mold but upon crushing it it releases carminic a