logwood, ground turmeric (kurkum)

Ingredients

hot oil, colophonia, aloe naqarī, aloe from Socotra, logwood, ground turmeric (kurkum)

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The preparation begins with 11 ratl of hot oil, to which 5 ratl of colophonia are added piece by piece until dissolved over a quiet fire. Then 3 ratl of aloe are added and dissolved. Three ounces of logwood and one ounce of ground turmeric (wrapped in cloth) are introduced into the oil (p. 51). The mixture is tested on a leaf of tin. Adjustments are made for color: increase turmeric if too red, increase logwood if too yellow. The final product is strained through cloth and stored (p. 51).

Evidence

"The way of doing it is that you take eleven ratl of hot oil, five ratl of colophonia, three ratl of aloe naqarī... then throw three ounces of logwood in it, tie up one ounce of ground turmeric (kurkum) wrapped in a piece of cloth, throw it into the oil."

Remarks

This recipe functions at the intersection of ink and varnish. While described in the context of inks, it had specific applications such as the painting of wooden clogs used in hammams (p. 43). The recipe highlights the use of medical terms like 'tasfīr' to describe the color-altering process.