Concentrated extract from Peru. Dyes fuchsia to raspberry colour
Cochineal is polychromic, producing many colours and shades/hues that vary with the different mordants, mordant combinations and the PH of the dyebath. Colour results will also depend on the type of fibre you are dying. There are many different recipes for using cochineal and your results will depend on your choice of mordant or what you're dying, we sell both natural dyes and mordants so everything you need is on our website.
Cochineal is a scale insect that feeds on the nopal cactus in arid areas of Mexico, Peru, Chile and the Canary Islands, and 85% of the harvest is cultivated by Andean
villagers, employing an estimated 400,000 families with this precious cash cop. It is the only natural red colorant approved by the FDA for food, drugs and cosmetics.
We offer an exceptionally high grade of cochineal extract. A potent colorant, cochineal is one of our most concentrated dyes - only need a very small percentage is needed to dye deep shades of fuchsia to raspberry. Cochineal is pH sensitive, and it is possible to shift its colour to scarlet with the addition of acid. Use distilled water for dyeing if you live in a hard water area to obtain brightest shades.
If you are new to natural dyes you will discover that the process of preparing your natural dyes is as much an art as the finished results. As with anything of this nature it is best to make samples and experiment first.
