الغري الأسود الصيني الصافي

Ingredients

غري صيني, دهن الكتان, ملح

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The recipe (p. 13) involves taking 'old Chinese glue' and cutting it into small pieces to remove its salinity. The glue is then processed with linseed oil (دهن الكتان) and other secret ingredients of the alchemists (referred to as 'knowledge of the secrets'). The mixture is exposed to the sun (في شمس) to thicken and finalize the ink, resulting in a 'pure black' (أسود صافي) substance that is highly durable and used for marking metal or fine parchment.

Evidence

"صنعة الغري الأسود الصيني الصافي... عتيق قطعة صغيراً فقد علمت ما تخرجه وتؤديه مما كان فيه من ملوحته... فيكون في آخر ما يكون من شمس"

Remarks

This ink is noted for its high quality and its use on 'swords and weapons' (p. 13), indicating it is more of a lacquer-like ink than a standard writing ink. The exposure to sunlight suggests a polymerization process for the oil component.