Black Walnut Ink

February 2024.

Received 12 Black Walnut hulls from my sister in Alabama. Found on the ground, past season.

Soaked overnight in distilled water.

Simmered on stovetop with lid on for 4 hours. Kept adding a little distilled water to ensure it didn’t boil off totally. The delicious smell was one of the best I’ve ever experienced: earthy, spicy, nutty. I imagined this is what a forest gnome smelled like.

Strained with metal strainer.

Filtered with coffee filter.

Concentrated on stovetop a bit more.

Bottled in 60ml dropper bottle with 10 drops liquid gum Arabic (distilled water, powdered gum, honey, glycerin, preservative and 2 drops each of clove and wintergreen essential oil.