Table of Contents

Cochineal Lake Making

Name: Anna Christensen

Date and Time: 

2021. June. 1, 11:00am

Location: my kitchen

Subject: Making cochineal pigment

Step 1: measure out 300 ml of water into a large (quart) mason jar, and 100 ml of water into a medium (pint) mason jar

Step 2: Place sachet of ground cochineal (0.24 grams) into the 300ml of water and mix in 4 grams potash

Step 3: Pour water in a pot large enough to fit both mason jars. The water level should ideally only reach just above the liquid in the smaller jar to prevent it from tipping over. My water level was just above the level of the liquid in the larger jar.

Step 4: Place your larger jar in the water and bring water to a gentle boil. Once water boils lower the stovetop temperature to keep it at a simmer.

Step 5: When water is hot, add the smaller mason jar and mix until the alum dissolves. Once the alum had dissolved in mine I accidentally tipped it over because the high water level made it unstable and most of the liquid inside went into the pot.

Step 6: When alum has dissolved remove the mason jar from the water and place it on a trivet. Keep the bigger jar in the simmering water (big bubbles will emerge from under the jar but the water shouldn’t otherwise be agitated) for about 18 minutes and then place it on a trivet as well.

Step 7: Slowly add the alum solution, a bit at a time, to the bigger jar. Stir the contents of the jar and test the pH after each bit of alum solution added. Since so much of my dissolved alum went into the water in the pot, I kept adding that water to the jar to decrease pH. I had to pour some of the solution into a second jar to fit enough water to bring the pH down to 6 or 7. As you add the alum solution the contents of the big jar will turn from dark purple to a lighter pink color.

Step 8: Once your solution is at a pH of 6 or 7, let it rest until a layer of clear water an inch or two high develops at the top of the liquid. At this point set up a coffee filter inside a strainer and rest it on top of an empty pot. Pour your solution through the filter until it has completely drained out. I used a second coffee filter in a funnel over the same pot to make the process a bit faster. It still took around 30 minutes for the water to drain completely.

Step 9: Observe the color of the water drained from the filter. In my case it was still somewhat pink.

Step 10: Pour water through the filter(s) to wash the pigment until it runs out clear.

Step 11: Leave the filters to dry for 48 hours

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Name: (Also the name of your working partner)

Date and Time: 

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Name: (Also the name of your working partner)

Date and Time: 

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