Why do Chinese people raise insects on cactus leaves?

Описание: Why do Chinese people raise insects on cactus leaves?

Did you know that the Chinese raise insects on cactus leaves to make lipstick? The process begins by cultivating cochineal insects on Opuntia cactus plants. Healthy cactus plants are selected, and then cochineal larvae are placed on the surface of the leaves so they can parasitize and feed on the sap. As they grow, these insects gradually accumulate carminic acid — a natural pigment that gives off a distinct red color.
After about 2–3 months, once the cochineal insects have matured, they are harvested, dried, and ground into a fine powder. The powder is then mixed with water, filtered to remove residue and impurities, then boiled and concentrated to obtain a pure extract. This extract is further finely ground to create pure carmine pigment.
Finally, the pigment is blended with natural ingredients like beeswax and nourishing oils to form the lipstick mixture. The mixture is poured into molds, producing traditional lipsticks with vibrant, long-lasting color that are safe for users.

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