ḥibr (iron-gall black ink)

Ingredients

green gallnuts, water, gum arabic, Kirmani green vitriol, sal ammoniac, salt

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Take green gallnuts, crush them, and pour five times their quantity of water over them. Place the mixture in a copper recipient over a gentle fire until half of the water evaporates. Filter the liquid through a thick cloth. For every raṭl of purified liquid, add five asātīr of gum arabic and half an ounce of Kirmani green vitriol (p. 217-218).

Evidence

"The first four recipes describe preparations of black iron-gall inks. The basic ingredients are gallnuts, gum arabic, and vitriol"

Remarks

The addition of sal ammoniac is specifically intended to prevent decay, while salt is added to prevent the ink from congealing in freezing temperatures (p. 218). The author contrasts ḥibr (thin iron-gall ink) with līqa (thick metallic-based ink) (p. 211).