What to do with kattha and easy straining.

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Posted by Maureen on August 9, 2001 at 23:12:50:

For Sharon - After trying to grate the kattha and finding that hard
to do and not very helpful I found that just pounding it into powder
and chunks with a hammer while wrapped in a lot of plastic took care
of the two squares in about five minutes. It didn't appear to do
much just mixed with water or lemon so I mixed about 3 teaspoons of
the kattha with 8 or nine teaspoons of lemon juice, 5 drops of clove
oil and enough black coffee brew to get a good liquid and heated the
mixture just prior to boiling and then the magic of kattha appeared.
It resulted in a slightly thick smooth deep deep bittersweet cocoa
brown. The powder and chunks desolve in the hot liquid and the dying
property of the kattha becomes available. Without the heat it
remains hard in liquid and turns the liquid a tan color that doesn't
appear to impact the henna.

I also found that the same can be said of the black walnut powder.
It appeared to just hang around in the henna paste also unless it was
heated in a liquid mixture. I mixed the black walnut powder with
almond syrup, black coffee brew,lemon juice and a drop or two of
clove oil for luck. I know this should never be put on anyone but me
with all the nut products and clove in here. But it made a nice dark
thick syrup that I have saved to mix in the henna when I want to use
it again.

And for anyone looking for other ways to strain their henna paste: I
was rubber stamping and fabric painting on some small loose weave
muslim bags and had a few that the stamping did not come out
properly. I decided to try these for straining some henna paste
because I have had such trouble trying to strain with stockings and
knee highs mostly because to get the liquid through often required
such pressure that the stocking would burst. Anyway, no such problem
with these little bags. They have drawstring tops for closing and
fit nicely into baggys for catching the paste coming through. Also
they are easy to squeeze the last bit of liquid from while leaving
the larger pasty particles secure in the bag. And they can be rinsed
out and used again. They come in a variety of sizes that fit nicely
into the baggy and easily gives up enough paste for 2 to 6 small
applicator bottles or 1 1/2 to 3 larger applicator bottles depending
on the size muslim bag used.

And final find and update. The mini-sifters I bought recently are
more trouble than they are worth except for the smallest about of
henna powder and then you have to use something to scrape the powder
through the mesh like a spoon or popsicle stick. But the mini
funnels are just little cute blessings. After getting your paste
into the baggy, instead of having to struggle to get the light weight
little applicator bottle to stand up and support the weight of the
baggy with the paste and clipped corner, the funnel in the bottle
creates a lot more balance and provides a much wider mouth to squeeze
the paste into. The paste has no problem going through the funnel.
I love these little buggers...one is about 2 inches and the other
about an inch and a half tall.

Oh yes, the kattha and cajeput mixture out did the black walnut and
cajeput mix. The stain was darker. I just did a few lines on my
toes and the bottom of my feet with each and at this point the
kattha/cajeput is darker on both the top and bottom. Of course this
does not have to remain true. I will see what they look like
tomorrow. I also wonder if either the kattha or black walnut will
impact the rate of demise. It would be hard for me to know though
since this is the first time I've put any of the cajeput mixes on
these exact places.

Maureen

Follow Ups

Re: What to do with kattha and easy straining. shaon 04:15:02 8/11/2001 (1)
- Re: What to do with kattha and easy straining. Maureen 11:47:16 8/11/2001 (0)

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: For Sharon - After trying to grate the kattha and finding that hard : to do and not very helpful I found that just pounding it into powder : and chunks with a hammer while wrapped in a lot of plastic took care : of the two squares in about five minutes. It didn't appear to do : much just mixed with water or lemon so I mixed about 3 teaspoons of : the kattha with 8 or nine teaspoons of lemon juice, 5 drops of clove : oil and enough black coffee brew to get a good liquid and heated the : mixture just prior to boiling and then the magic of kattha appeared. : It resulted in a slightly thick smooth deep deep bittersweet cocoa : brown. The powder and chunks desolve in the hot liquid and the dying : property of the kattha becomes available. Without the heat it : remains hard in liquid and turns the liquid a tan color that doesn't : appear to impact the henna. : : I also found that the same can be said of the black walnut powder. : It appeared to just hang around in the henna paste also unless it was : heated in a liquid mixture. I mixed the black walnut powder with : almond syrup, black coffee brew,lemon juice and a drop or two of : clove oil for luck. I know this should never be put on anyone but me : with all the nut products and clove in here. But it made a nice dark : thick syrup that I have saved to mix in the henna when I want to use : it again. : : And for anyone looking for other ways to strain their henna paste: I : was rubber stamping and fabric painting on some small loose weave : muslim bags and had a few that the stamping did not come out : properly. I decided to try these for straining some henna paste : because I have had such trouble trying to strain with stockings and : knee highs mostly because to get the liquid through often required : such pressure that the stocking would burst. Anyway, no such problem : with these little bags. They have drawstring tops for closing and : fit nicely into baggys for catching the paste coming through. Also : they are easy to squeeze the last bit of liquid from while leaving : the larger pasty particles secure in the bag. And they can be rinsed : out and used again. They come in a variety of sizes that fit nicely : into the baggy and easily gives up enough paste for 2 to 6 small : applicator bottles or 1 1/2 to 3 larger applicator bottles depending : on the size muslim bag used. : : And final find and update. The mini-sifters I bought recently are : more trouble than they are worth except for the smallest about of : henna powder and then you have to use something to scrape the powder : through the mesh like a spoon or popsicle stick. But the mini : funnels are just little cute blessings. After getting your paste : into the baggy, instead of having to struggle to get the light weight : little applicator bottle to stand up and support the weight of the : baggy with the paste and clipped corner, the funnel in the bottle : creates a lot more balance and provides a much wider mouth to squeeze : the paste into. The paste has no problem going through the funnel. : I love these little buggers...one is about 2 inches and the other : about an inch and a half tall. : : Oh yes, the kattha and cajeput mixture out did the black walnut and : cajeput mix. The stain was darker. I just did a few lines on my : toes and the bottom of my feet with each and at this point the : kattha/cajeput is darker on both the top and bottom. Of course this : does not have to remain true. I will see what they look like : tomorrow. I also wonder if either the kattha or black walnut will : impact the rate of demise. It would be hard for me to know though : since this is the first time I've put any of the cajeput mixes on : these exact places. : : Maureen : :
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