A method for producing an octaketide derived aromatic compound of interest (e.g. carminic acid), wherein the method comprises (I) : heterologous expression of a recombinantly introduced Type III polyketide synthase (PKS) gene encoding an octaketide synthase (OKS) to obtain non-reduced octaketide in vivo within the recombinant host cell and (II) : converting in vivo the non-reduced octaketide of step (I) into a C14-C34 aromatic compound of interest (e.g. carminic acid).