Avocado Seed

Making ink from avocado seeds

Bring chopped avocado stones, water and soda ash to a low boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. The chopped avocado pits will begin to turn the water pink. This should take anywhere between 20-40 minutes to see the colour change.
When the desired colour is reached, turn off the heat.

Soak off the heat for a minimum of one hour.
Strain the pits into a bowl with a fine mesh strainer.
Strain the ink slowly into the jar using a coffee filter and a small funnel.
To add in the powdered gum Arabic, heat up the ink again but don’t bring it to a boil. Whisk the powder into the heated ink until dissolved.
When the ink has cooled, add 8-10 drops of alcohol per a 1-ounce bottle of ink to help preserve the ink. Optionally this can also be done by adding a clove, wintergreen oil or thyme oil.

Secure the lid and refrigerate to help preserve.

Text submitted by the maker

Ingredient list

Photo credits

Avocado seed tests by Lucila Kenny