THIS PRODUCT IS NOT SIMPLY GROUND TARA PODS BUT AN EXTRACT WITH A HIGHER TANNIN CONTENT

Main constituents : Gallic acid derived hydrolysable tannins (around 5 gallic acid units per tannin unit). Tannin content > 95%. This tannin has a low colour.

Uses :
Mordanting cellulose fibers : Tara extract is rich in tannins. In pre-mordanting baths, tara extract enhances the mordant fixation on cellulosic fibers, usually more difficult to dye.

Dyeing and textile printing of natural fibers : Tara extract provides shades from beige to grey and black according to the dyebath. Tara also allows to dye in purplish black the wool and cotton, with iron sulfate.

Other uses : tannery, iron gall ink preparation.

Products not intended for food.

The plant :
Tara is a thorny shrub native from Peru. It is a widely spread species in Central America. Peru is the main producer of tara where it is grown in agroforestry systems. Pods are an important source of tannins. Tara gum is produced from the seeds. This plant is also used by local populations for its traditional medicinal properties.

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Main constituents : Hydrolysables tannins > 95 %.
Yellowish powder in granular form producing almost no dust during handling. Very good solubility in cold or hot water.

Uses :
Pre-treatment of vegetable fibers : The high tannic acid content of this gallnut extract is perfect for the pre-treatment of cellulosic fibres (named engallage in this case) to improve the fixation of mordant during the mordanting step.

THIS TANNIN HAS A VERY LOW COLOUR. RECOMMEND FOR ENGALLAGE STEPS.

Natural dyeing and printing textile : any fiber can be dyed with oak gallnuts. It does increase lightfasntess of the resulting colours. In presence of iron sulphate, this extract forms very solid and very dark complexes. This property allows to use the extract of gallnut for shading (with iron sulphate) after dark shades (madder, indigo) on silk and wool. This makes these shades even darker while limiting the iron sulphate (which makes these fibers weak).

Other uses : tannery, manufacture of iron gall inks.

Products not intended for food.

The plant : 
The Chinese sumach is a shrub of 2 to 10 m tall. It is common of the Northeastern India, in China, Japan, Korea and Indonesia. Galls are caused by the sting of an insect on leaves or petioles. The gallnuts of Sumach are very rich in hydrolysables tannins (tannic acid).

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Main constituents : Hydrolysables tannins > 95 %.
Light yellow powder in granular form producing almost no dust during handling. Very good solubility in cold or hot water.

Uses :
Pre-treatment of vegetable fibres : The tannic acid is perfect for the pre-treatment of cellulosic vegetable fibers (named engallage in this case) to enhance the fixation of the mordant during the mordanting step.

THIS TANNIN HAS A LIGHT COLOUR. RECOMMENDED FOR ENGALLAGES STEPS.

Textile dyeing : any fiber can be dyed with oak gallnuts. It does increase lightfasntess of the resulting colours. In presence of iron sulphate, this extract forms very solid and very dark complexes. This property allows to use the extract of gallnut for shading (with iron sulphate) after dark shades (madder, indigo) on silk and wool. This makes these shades even darker while limiting the iron sulphate (which makes these fibers weak).

Other uses : tannery, manufacture of iron gall inks.

Products not intended for food.

The plant :
The oak galls are produced by the tree as a defense against the sting of an insect in buds. The tree excretes a tannin-rich substance that becomes harder and forms a gallnut.

Gall oaks are present around the Mediterranean Sea and in Minor Asia. Aleppo galls are the most reputed because of their highest tannin content (50 to 70 %).

Oak galls have been used since Antiquity. Tablets of Sumerians’ cuneiform writing dated 3000-2000 B.C. mentions the use of galls in the manufacture of leather.

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