This spice blend is a staple in Latin American cooking. A staple of many cuisines, including Puerto Rican, Dominican and Mexican cooking, sazón is a blend of spices, and when translated from Spanish, it means simply "seasoning." But there's an inherent complexity to sazón, with its unique blend having evolved across cultures and adapted to local palates and tastes.
For Puerto Ricans in particular, it's not sazón without achiote, also known as annatto seed powder, which is derived from the pulp surrounding the seeds of the Bixa orellana tree, a shrub or tree native to the tropical Americas, mostly in Central America and the Caribbean. Annatto is what gives sazón its signature red hue.
Arguably the most recognizable sazón in the U.S., Goya's sazón is available in bodegas, delis and supermarkets across the country. Today, Goya offers seven sazón options, including seasonings with saffron, cilantro and tomato, garlic and onion, coriander and annatto and blends without annatto, salt or reduced sodium. All of their sazóns have MSG, some form of garlic powder and tricalcium phosphate (an anti-caking agent) and many of them have artificial colors, salt and other spices.
Loisa offers an organic sazón that is made with sea salt, achiote, cumin, coriander, garlic, oregano and black pepper. Loisa co-founder Scott Hattis says what distinguishes their sazón from others like Goya's, is its pared-down ingredients list.