Keilexandra (keilexandra) wrote in little_details,
Keilexandra
keilexandra
little_details
  • Mood: hopeful

Red Amaranth, AKA xian cai

Googling the Chinese name found me the English name, but apparently amaranth is also some sort of purple flowering plant and Wiki was useless. I've found lots of info about description and cooking methods, but nothing about what I have in mind. Maybe because it's impossible?

I know from experience that when red amaranth is cooked, it produces a bright pinkish-magenta liquid. My question is, could the plant ever be conceivably used as a cloth dye, perhaps with urine for setting? I'm thinking that they would just boil the leaves, strain, maybe add other colorings to darken, and then dye with the usual medieval dipping method.

Thanks in advance!
Tags: ~plants
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