Natural Dye - Gallnut

Gallnut Powder Extract is a concentrated, high-tannin extract used in natural dyeing to help fibres bond more effectively with colour. It provides the same benefits as traditional gallnut powder but with greater tannin concentration and faster solubility, making it ideal for dyers who want consistent, reliable results.

This fine extract dissolves quickly in water, allowing for easy preparation and shorter soaking times compared with raw gallnut. It is particularly valuable when dyeing cellulose fibres such as cotton, linen and hemp, where tannins help improve dye uptake and overall colour fastness. Gallnut extract is commonly used as part of a tannin–alum mordant process, preparing fibres so that natural dyes develop richer colour and more even coverage.

Benefits

• Highly concentrated tannin extract – stronger tannin content than raw gallnut powder
• Fast dissolving formula – mixes quickly with minimal preparation time
• Improves dye uptake – helps natural dyes bond more effectively to fibres
• Enhances colour strength and fastness – produces richer, longer-lasting results
• Excellent for cellulose fibres – ideal for cotton, linen and other plant fibres
• Efficient for studio or production dyeing – consistent results with less product

Technical

• Concentrated gallnut extract rich in natural tannins
• Faster dissolving and stronger performance than raw powder
• Used as a pre-treatment before alum mordanting
• Use at 2–5% of fabric weight depending on fibre type
• Soak for 30–60 minutes, rinse, and follow with mordant