Description
- Dried Dyer's Woad (Isatis Tinctoria) For Textile Dyeing
- The dye extracted from woad is indigo, the same dye extracted from "true indigo", Indigofera tinctoria, but in a lower concentration.
- You can make a beautiful blue woad dye from the leaves of the woad plant.
- Woad is biodegradable and safe in the environment.
- Ingredients: 100% Cut Woad Herb. Net Weight: 1oz/28.3gr. Origin: Germany
- Edible Premium Food-grade, Made in Germany. 100% Pure, Vegan. All Natural Ingredients, Raw & Caffeine Free.
Isatis Tinctoria, commonly known as woad or dyers woad, is a biennial plant that is native to Europe and Asia. It has been widely used as a source of blue dye for centuries, with the leaves of the plant being harvested, dried, and processed to extract the blue pigment. The extracted pigment was then used to dye cloth, wool, and silk, and was considered one of the most important natural dyes in Europe prior to the introduction of indigo.
The blue pigment in Isatis Tinctoria is called indigotin, which is unique in that it is one of the few natural blue pigments. This made it a valuable resource for those who wanted to dye cloth and fabric in a blue color. The blue dye from Isatis Tinctoria was widely used in Europe from the Middle Ages until the 16th century, when it was gradually replaced by the cheaper and more easily obtainable indigo from the New World.
The process of extracting the blue pigment from Isatis Tinctoria was a labor-intensive process. The leaves of the plant were harvested and dried, then the plant matter was ground into a paste, which was fermented for several days. The fermented paste was then pressed to extract the blue liquid, which was then used as a dye.
Despite the decline in its use as a dye, Isatis Tinctoria remains an important plant in the history of dyeing and the natural dye movement. Today, the plant is still grown and processed by artisans and small-scale producers, and its blue dye is used by those who are interested in traditional and sustainable dyeing practices.