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What is cochineal extract?
COCHINEAL EXTRACT is a natural dye isolated from cochineal female insects (Dactylopius coccus Costa). An extract with a high colour strength. Main constituants : Carminic acid. This extract is manufactured in Peru.
What is the difference between carmine and cochineal?
Cochineal coloring agent is obtained from the cochineal insect, which lives on cactus plants in Peru and the Canary Islands. Carmine is a color obtained from cochineal extract and carminic acid is responsible to deliver a color.
What is cochineal ingredient?
The insects used to make carmine are called cochineal, and are native to Latin America where they live on cacti. Now farmed mainly in Peru, millions of the tiny insects are harvested every year to produce the colouring.
What pigment is made from cochineal?
carmine
carmine, red or purplish-red pigment obtained from cochineal (q.v.), a red dyestuff extracted from the dried bodies of certain female scale insects native to tropical and subtropical America.
How do you use cochineal extract?
Make a paste with 1 teaspoon (5 grams) cochineal extract and a small amount of warm water. Fill a saucepan with water and add the cochineal extract paste. Add the pre-wetted mordanted fibre. Bring the dye bath to a gentle simmer and then keep at that temperature for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring gently from time to time.
Is cochineal banned in UK?
A recent amendment to the Food Additives Regulation 1333/2008 means that we will no longer see the use of ‘cochineal’ on food labels in the EU and UK.
Can vegetarians eat cochineal?
Beef is taken from the body of a cow. Cochineal – Red pigment extracted from the crushed carcasses of the cochineal insect, a cactus-feeding insect. Pork – Pork, or pig, is not considered a vegetarian option.
Is cochineal still used?
From 23 October 2019, food and drink manufacturers using the additive E120 in their products must use either of the terms ‘carminic acid’ or ‘carmines’; or the E number, E120 on their product labels. The term ‘cochineal’ must not be used and food labels will have to be updated.
How do you dye with cochineal extract?
Does cochineal require a mordant?
Cochineal has excellent light and washfastness and produces a powerful range of fuchsias, reds and purples. Although expensive, cochineal has a high concentration of carminic acid and only small amounts are needed. Mordanting: Use alum mordant at 15% WOF for protein fibres.
How do you make purple with cochineal?
Addition of Iron Iron will shift cochineal to purple. You can use a tiny amount (1/16th of a teaspoon or a pinch up to 1/8th teaspoon) dissolved in cold water and added to the dye bath before dyeing. Iron is extremely potent and changes the color immediately, so use sparingly.
Shepherd Textiles Cochineal Extract is produced on the same farm in Peru that supplies our dried cochineal. It takes more than 4,000 cochineal insects to make each ounce of extract. It contains 52% carminic acid by weight, and gives fantastic deep reds and fuchsias on protein fibers like wool and silk.
Can you use cochineal extract on cellulose?
We recommend using raw cochineal instead, which will bond much better to properly prepared cotton. However, if you want to give cellulose fibers a try with Cochineal Extract, we recommend a full tannin and mordant treatment. Scour cellulose fibers well.
Can I use cochineal extract to dye cotton?
However, because Cochineal Extract is produced by reacting a cochineal dyebath with an alum mordant, it has poor bonding properties with cotton and tends to express alum mordant colors. To dye cotton, or to get different colors using tin and copper mordants, we recommend using raw dried cochineal instead. 1. Background on Cochineal