A brief History of walnut ink

Walnut ink is an ink made from the green husk that surrounds the nut of Walnuts! The black walnut (Juglans nigra) is more typically used and can be commonly found in the Central and Eastern parts of the United States, with varying species available around the world.

The ink process involves soaking the husks in water, which loosens the fibers to allow the pigment within the husks to leech out. Then a series of processes refine the liquid and natural herb preservatives are used to keep it shelf stable. The end result is a beautiful stain that ranges in color from warm gold to a gorgeous warm, dark brown.

It naturally has wonderful archival properties - and while it’s not wholly waterproof, it’s very resistant to fading and moderate weathering - which made it perfect for furniture/fabric stain by Settlers and Farmers. Other uses for Walnut Ink throughout various cultures and time periods was for writing, cleaning/staining animal hide, patterning, etc.

And more incredibly, the Black Walnut’s uses aren’t limited to just dye and stain - it’s antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, and a fungicide when prepared correctly!

Native Americans (including the Cherokee, Delaware, Iroquois, and Meskwaki tribes) traditionally use many different parts of the Black Walnut tree in tea as a cathartic, emetic, or disease remedy agent, as well as a chewable remedy for toothaches, snake bites, and headaches.

**DO NOT consume Black Walnut husks/dyes/inks - this is for educational purposes only. Ecopath’s Inks are NOT intended for ingestion*

TIPS For use & storage

Please store your ink bottle in a cool, dark place. All bottles (as of the 2023 update) are amber colored to help repel UV light, but avoid keeping it in direct sunlight! Your ink will keep indefinitely as long as it’s stored properly.

This ink was made with all natural, organic materials and preservatives - on rare occasion, you may find growth on the top of your ink. This is completely natural, safe, and will not harm you or the ink! Just scoop it off before use.