rouge organique, kermès, cochenille

Ingredients

kermès, cochenille, laque

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The colorant is typically a lake where the animal-origin dye is fixed on a mineral base (calcium, tin, alumina, or alum) (p. 823, note 67). It can vary from orange-red to carmine or violet-red depending on the process. In the Maghreb, kermes (Kermes vermilio) was a local product often gathered from the Quercus coccifera oak (p. 824).

Evidence

"Un rouge rosé également présent est identifié comme un rouge organique dont les caractéristiques spectrales correspondent à celles des rouges de cochenille (fig. 10). (p. 820)"

Remarks

The use of kermes is preferred as a hypothesis for manuscripts up to the 16th century, after which cochineal from the Americas became available (p. 824-825). Local names include 'qirmiz' and 'vermiculus' (p. 825).