Hestia Homeschool for Young Wild Women

Natural Egg Dyeing with Celestial Seasonings Teas

"Probably one of the most private things in the world
is an egg until it is broken."
-- M.F.K Fisher, food editor, Star Tribune

From the kitchen of Lisa Berryment, contributing writer and occasional egg dyer for Celestial Seasonings. Inspired by the original article "Au Naturel -- Color your eggs the old fashioned way" by Lee Svitak Dean, Taste Editor for Star Tribune Newspaper of the Twin Cities (Minneapolis - St. Paul)

Create a variety of different colored eggs using Celestial Seasonings teas. The unique combination of herbs and spices in each tea will create a slightly different color. Experiment and have fun!

Instructions

1. Wash eggs in warm soapy water to remove any oily residue that may impede the color from adhering to the eggs.
2. Use cooled hard-boiled eggs or egg shells with the egg removed. Note that dyeing just shells is more difficult because they break more easily and they float making it difficult to keep them submerged in the coloring solution and attaining a consistent color.
3. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 2 or more tea bags, steep for at least 10 minutes. Gently squeeze bags and remove. Add 1 teaspoon of white vinegar to the tea. Let cool.
4. Gently submerge an egg into the tea. Allow the egg to sit in the tea for several hours or overnight. The longer the egg soaks, the deeper the final color will be. If you plan to eat the eggs be sure to do this step in the refrigerator.
5. Remove the egg from the tea and let it dry -- an egg carton works nicely as a drying rack. Be careful to handle the eggs gently and minimally as some of the colors can easily be rubbed off before the egg has dried.

Finishing Touches

Sponging: Dab the still wet egg with a sponge for a textured look.

Glossing: Rub dried eggs with vegetable oil for a soft sheen.

Wax resist designs: Before dyeing the eggs draw shapes, pictures or inspiring words on them with crayons or a piece of wax. The wax won't absorb the color so the designs will show through.

Tea Speckled Eggs

This is another way to dye eggs with tea that creates a speckled or mottled effect.

1. Secure one end of a 4-inch length of stocking with a twist tie.
2. Place a hard boiled egg in the stocking, wrap 2 tea bags around the egg*, be sure to disperse the tea within the bag to cover as much of the egg shell as possible. Secure open end of stocking with another twist tie.
3. Place the egg in a mug or small bowl, cover with boiling water, add 1 teaspoon of white vinegar and steep for several hours or overnight. You can do this step in the refrigerator, but eating these eggs is not recommended.
4. Carefully remove egg from brew and gently remove stocking and tea bags. Place on a rack to dry.

*For a more intense speckled effect remove the tea from the bag and spread the herbs around the egg as it is placed into the stocking.

Teas like our Zingers that contain lots of hibiscus will color eggs with purplish to reddish tones; chamomile with yellow tones; green tea, bright yellows; black tea, shades of brown; and teas like Roastaroma and Emperor's Choice that have lots of roasted chicory will range from golden orange to shades of brown.

The final color depends on the strength of the tea solution and how long the egg is soaked in it. You can also try blending two different types of teas together. Whateverbrew you choose, this old-fashioned method of egg dyeing will add natural charm to your holidays with lovely earthy colored eggs. Here are some of the teas we tried and the resulting egg color.

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• #6 Comment from fitzzer 
  4/17/06 11:52 AM | Permalink

  Hi Kas - I'm a little late, but wanted to stop by and wish you and your family a Happy Easter! Hugs, ~ Lori
• #5 Comment from magogos 
  4/15/06 7:56 PM | Permalink

  Neat info, though I am not dying eggs this year. I will again eventually with my grandchild(due mid-June). I will keep this in mind, though. Margo
• #4 Comment from thesheatons 
  4/15/06 12:23 AM | Permalink

  Hmmm, Lemon ginger should make a nice light yellow.
  
  Jackie
• #3 Comment from my78novata 
  4/14/06 10:13 PM | Permalink

  cool maybe it will work on clothes since th eold navey theme is tans this year
• #2 Comment from sugar1337 
  4/14/06 8:30 PM | Permalink

  Sounds different...I love dying easter eggs myself!  :)
  http://journals.aol.com/sugar1337/Disobeyingtherulesofconvention/