gold ink (dhahab, māʾ al-dhahab)

Ingredients

liquid gold, gold leaf, clear lemon juice, water, saffron (zaʿfarān), gum arabic

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Liquid gold is prepared from gold leaf. This is then mixed with clear lemon juice, water, a small amount of saffron (zaʿfarān), and gum arabic (p. 77).

Evidence

"A recipe for one gold ink (dhahab, māʾ al-dhahab) (→ Gilt and gilding), as given by al-Qalqashandī, mentions liquid gold (from a gold leaf ), mixed with clear lemon juice, water, a little bit of saffron (zaʿfarān) and gum arabic."

Remarks

Al-Qalqashandi identifies gold ink as one of four main types of coloured inks alongside sky-blue, brilliant red, and reddish-brown (p. 77).