Re: fresh indigo leaves

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Posted by Alex ~ spellstone on October 14, 2004 at 05:51:19:

In reply to: fresh indigo leaves posted by Pam F. on October 13, 2004 at 20:18:19:

The answer really lies in what you want to do with the dye. How
many plants will you grow and how much dye you going to need
at one time? Indigo and woad can both be used fresh for
small-scale projects. I have no information about freezing but ‘A
Dyers Garden ‘ is a good text so my guess would be that it is
correct unless proven otherwise.

It is normal to process the plant material as this extends the use
of the dye making it more efficient in a dye vat. Processing for
both woad and indigo requires at least one period of
fermentation. The aim of fermentation is to get the dye out of the
plant material, in the case of indigo the precipitated dye is drawn
off, dried and sold as blue powder or cakes. It is possible that
dried indigo leaves will still produce dye like the green indigo
hair dye does - but you’d have to try it to be sure!

Only The young leaves of the woad are harvested for dye, the
older leaves turn blue and you won’t get any dye from those. The
leaves are partially dried in the sun and then crushed. The
resulting paste is hand kneaded into cakes called woad balls.
The kneading process gave the workers blackened hands.
Woad balls were dried and stored until needed, the next stage of
processing is a two-week fermentation VERY VERY SMELLY.

There are simpler protocols for the use of woad at a domestic
craft scale, all are smelly because the plant material is allowed
to ferment and woad is a cabbage family plant containing
sulphur.

* If you live in USA check what the regulations are for growing
woad, the woad plant Isatis tinctoria is listed as noxious/invasive
weed for: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada,
Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

I’ll be updating Indigo Page with a herbal in the next few days.

Alex (indigopage.com)

Indigo Page ~ The Home of Blue

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Re: fresh indigo leaves Pam F. 10:00:40 10/14/2004 (0)

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: The answer really lies in what you want to do with the dye. How : many plants will you grow and how much dye you going to need : at one time? Indigo and woad can both be used fresh for : small-scale projects. I have no information about freezing but ‘A : Dyers Garden ‘ is a good text so my guess would be that it is : correct unless proven otherwise. : : It is normal to process the plant material as this extends the use : of the dye making it more efficient in a dye vat. Processing for : both woad and indigo requires at least one period of : fermentation. The aim of fermentation is to get the dye out of the : plant material, in the case of indigo the precipitated dye is drawn : off, dried and sold as blue powder or cakes. It is possible that : dried indigo leaves will still produce dye like the green indigo : hair dye does - but you’d have to try it to be sure! : : Only The young leaves of the woad are harvested for dye, the : older leaves turn blue and you won’t get any dye from those. The : leaves are partially dried in the sun and then crushed. The : resulting paste is hand kneaded into cakes called woad balls. : The kneading process gave the workers blackened hands. : Woad balls were dried and stored until needed, the next stage of : processing is a two-week fermentation VERY VERY SMELLY. : : There are simpler protocols for the use of woad at a domestic : craft scale, all are smelly because the plant material is allowed : to ferment and woad is a cabbage family plant containing : sulphur. : : * If you live in USA check what the regulations are for growing : woad, the woad plant Isatis tinctoria is listed as noxious/invasive : weed for: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, : Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming. : : I’ll be updating Indigo Page with a herbal in the next few days. : : Alex (indigopage.com)
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