Handmade Black Walnut Ink | Stratton Hall 1794

The black walnut tree, a native Northeastern species, is valued for the fine furniture grade lumber it produces and for its delicious, nutritious black walnuts that ripen in the fall. The walnuts are used to make black walnut dye, one of the most simple natural dyes to make, requiring no mordant or chemicals. It produces a rich, warm brown color. The nuts are also used to make black walnut ink which produces a range of lovely browns, from light to dark. Black walnut ink has been used by scribes and artists for centuries. Today it is used for calligraphy, painting, aging paper to give it the look of parchment, for dyeing fabric or staining wood.

We harvest black walnuts from the trees growing on our Southern New Jersey farm beginning in late August and until the last nut has fallen in October. The hulls are removed from the nuts and simmered in water for hours until the desired color is achieved. We toss a rusty nail into some simmering batches to create a deeper color. The hull and water mixture is then strained and poured into bottles.

We add 10% alcohol and two cloves to each bottle as a preservative to prevent mold growth. (Note: Mold does not compromise the ink. If it forms, it can be scraped off and discarded.) Our black walnut ink comes in a clear glass Boston round bottle with a phenolic cap. Each bottle is tied round with a bit of our heritage Dorset Horn sheep yarn which has been dyed using our homemade black walnut dye. Our black walnut ink would make a wonderful and unique gift for a writer, artist, nature or history buff.

We offer two sizes:

2 oz. – $10 (plus tax and shipping)

4 oz. – $19 (plus tax and shipping)

Our fast-drying ink may be used with brushes, quills and dip pens. It is not suitable for use with fountain pens. The dry ink color varies, from parchment to medium walnut, depending on type of paper used and the method of application. The ink can be thickened, if desired, by adding a small amount of arrowroot, cornstarch or gum arabic, or darkened by further simmering the ink until the desired color is achieved. Shake the ink before using. Store your ink in a cool dark place. Black walnut ink stains everything so take care when using. Questions? Call the farm at 856-430-1208 or send an email to joannlaughlin@icloud.com.