Pomegranate Extract

Description

Pomegranate extract (Punica granatum), is known as anaar in India and granado in Spain. It grows wild in India, Italy, North Africa and China. The pomegranate also serves as a symbol in many cultures. It is a common motif in Christianity, the fruit of choice on the Jewish holiday, Rosh Hashanah, and a recurring token in Greek and Roman mythology. It continues to serve a symbolic purpose in Greek culture, showing up in weddings, funerals, new home purchases, and the new year, serving as a symbol for abundance, fertility, and good luck.

Some use pomegranate extract as both a tannin-rich mordant and as a dye. Pomegranate is an aromatic dye that yields a matte green-yellow color. 50g of pomegranate extract will dye approximately 600g (1.4 pounds) of fiber to a dark yellow shade. For more information on how to use it, please see our page on natural dye extracts.

It yields rich blue greens when overdyed with indigo or dark olive greens when combined with logwood or iron.

From our Feedback Friday series:

When I do the mordant process and use tannin it usually dyes my fabric a brown color. Is there a trick for that NOT to happen?

Tannin is present in a number of different dyestuffs, and depending on how dark it is, does create a brown shade. If you want to use a “clear” tannin like gallo-tannin, the color will be a light beige, and is normally not noticeable in the final dyed textile. A quick rundown of tannins that are suitable for use with pomegranate extract are gallo tannin, tara powder, and pomegranate.