It's Polk Berry Time Again.

[lectraplayer]

It's polk berry time, and I'm again trying to find the best way to preserve the color again. So far, best results were a wine with ascorbic acid (Vitamin A.) However, that turned my pen into a celebratory bottle of chempegne. This time, I'm trying a cold brew and pasteurization. What has worked for you?

[gordonhooker]

I use the rum and hat method....

You take a 40 oz bottle of Bundaberg rum and a shot glass,

You place a hat at the end of the bed where you can see it,

You then start to administer shots of the Bundaberg rum to yourself until you can't see the hat,

Once that is done you really don't care what happens to the ink

[AAAndrew]

I use the rum and hat method....

You take a 40 oz bottle of Bundaberg rum and a shot glass,

You place a hat at the end of the bed where you can see it,

You then start to administer shots of the Bundaberg rum to yourself until you can't see the hat,

Once that is done you really don't care what happens to the ink

 

My version of that is the Bourbon and a Cat technique. But I have to adjust the speed of application of bourbon depending on the activity level of the cat. It requires more finesse. Maybe I'll change it for a hat instead.

[fiberdrunk]

It's polk berry time, and I'm again trying to find the best way to preserve the color again. So far, best results were a wine with ascorbic acid (Vitamin A.) However, that turned my pen into a celebratory bottle of chempegne. This time, I'm trying a cold brew and pasteurization. What has worked for you?

 

Unfortunately, I've never found a good method to preserve the color. I've tried both vinegar and alcohol. I've tried fermentation, too. All tend to fade (especially the fermentation kind). The best results I ever got (based on a tip in another thread) were just to use plain pokeberry juice with no other additives, other than perhaps a whole clove or two, and to store it in the fridge in between use. Fermentation just leads to degradation and precipitation quicker. Even so in the fridge, you won't get a very long shelf life out of it (maybe a few months if you're careful). Pokeberry juice seems to last the longest on the page, but even it will fade and/or brown over time, just not as quickly as batches made with other additives. It's just not meant to be a permanent ink, unfortunately, but enjoy its vibrant colors in the short-term while you can. I prefer to freeze berries and just make up a small amount at at a time.

 

I've got a lovely pokeweed forest in my backyard. The berries are coming along but still a ways from harvesting.

Edited July 18, 2015 by fiberdrunk

[lectraplayer]

...speaking of which, I need to have me another pickin'. My first attempt was the brightest, as you noted Fiberdrunk. However, it soon became like keeping champagne in the pen (as many NASCAR racers have demonstrated) I did find that fermenting it into a wine turns it brown, but I hear it's more permanent. Isn't the US Constitution in Pokeberry?

[fiberdrunk]

...speaking of which, I need to have me another pickin'. My first attempt was the brightest, as you noted Fiberdrunk. However, it soon became like keeping champagne in the pen (as many NASCAR racers have demonstrated) I did find that fermenting it into a wine turns it brown, but I hear it's more permanent. Isn't the US Constitution in Pokeberry?

 

No, the Constitution is written in iron gall ink. I think it would have faded to oblivion long before now if it'd been written in pokeberry ink.

[lectraplayer]

I like this color...

[fiberdrunk]

I like this color...