Acacia Bark Tannin Powder ~ Acacia nilotica
High-Tannin Natural Dye & Mordant Assistant – Soft Tans to Warm Browns
 
Acacia Bark Powder is a versatile, tannin-rich dyestuff harvested from the bark of Acacia nilotica, a tree long used in traditional dyeing and tanning for its dense tannin content. It delivers warm, earthy tans and browns in its own right, while its strong tannin content also makes it a useful mordant assistant for improving dye uptake and fastness on cellulose fibres.
Beyond the dye pot, Acacia nilotica bark has a long history as a traditional leather tanning agent, and its tannin-iron reaction makes it a useful natural ingredient for ebonising wood and traditional ink-making.
 
Key Features:
- 100% pure, ground Acacia nilotica bark powder
- Rich in natural tannins
- Produces warm tan, fawn, and brown shades
- Suitable for cotton, linen, silk, and wool
- Doubles as a tannin pre-treatment for alum mordanting
 
Dyeing & Mordanting Notes:
- With alum: soft tan to honey-brown
- With iron: deeper brown to grey-brown tones
- As a tannin mordant: use 10–15% WOF before alum mordanting on cellulose fibres
- Pairs well with other bark and root dyes for layered earth-tone palettes
- Simmer 30–60 minutes at 60–80°C to extract colour before adding fibre
 
Beyond the Dye Pot:
- Traditional vegetable tanning agent for leather hides
- Combined with iron (ferrous sulphate or rust water), produces deep black ebonising solutions for wood, a natural alternative to commercial ebonising stains
- Suitable for traditional iron-gall style ink-making