yellow loosestrife (qasab nabatī/qasab dahabī)

Ingredients

yellow loosestrife (Nabtean reed), roots of loosestrife, henna

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Fresh yellow loosestrife and its roots are cut into finger-sized pieces and placed in a glass gourd with an alembic. The distillation process yields two fractions: a transparent watery one (to be discarded) and an intensely red one. Henna is kneaded with this red distillate and applied to the skin. Once dried, the resulting color is gold (p. 44).

Evidence

"Some fresh yellow loosestrife (lit., “Nabtean reed”) should be taken along with its roots, and cut like fingers; then poured in a glass gourd, and an alembic should be mounted on top of it... a water red like blood will distil, knead the henna with it, and use it to dye the palm of the girl... it comes out gold."

Remarks

The plant is philologically identified as yellow loosestrife, whose leaves release yellow dye and roots release brownish dye. The variant term 'qasab dahabī' (golden reed) in some manuscripts is interpreted as a 'lectio facilior' describing the recipe's goal (p. 44).