Re: Acacia Catechu or gambir (Malay)

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Posted by maui girl on September 26, 2001 at 22:31:20:

In reply to: Acacia Catechu or gambir (Malay) posted by Jewel on September 26, 2001 at 15:47:11:

Thank. You know I think I read a thread on this a while back but I
didn't put it togther. I'd like to try some for fun. If you would be
so kind as to email me on how to order some. I live in Hawaii so
there are no little shops like you mentioned here.
: Catechu or gambir has been used extensively with henna for as long
as
: I know. My mom use it in all her henna mix (normally to henna
: skin, not hair), so did her mother and my grandma's mother and so
on.
: It seems like whenever I talk to another dear elderly lady, she
would
: mention "gambir" and ask if I add that to my mixture. She would
then
: insist that I add that as it would make the stain "darker and
redder".
: When my mom was little, my grandma would grind freshly plucked
henna
: leaves from her backyard together with pieces of catechu, then
apply
: rightaway on tamarind juice soaked skin. That's all the secret I
know
: on how to make the stain darker (then again, they had the luxury of
: fresh henna leaves, lucky things!!).
:
: I have to admit though that I don't see any significant change in
: colour compared to my caj/ravensara/t3/pine EO mix, though older
: ladies swear by it. The fact is, if the powder is fresh, even plain
: old tap water is enough to produce a dark stain. I've done this
before
: with very fresh Meccan henna.
:
: Oh, something OT about catechu, my grandma used to chew on betel
: leaves and she would add very tiny pieces of catechu folded in the
: leaves, "To make my lips red" she would say with a huge red grin on
: her face ;). I can get catechu easily in little Indian shops
selling
: betel leaves, coconut oil (for hair), herbs and spices and such.
:
: Love & peace,
:
: ~Jewel~

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: Thank. You know I think I read a thread on this a while back but I : didn't put it togther. I'd like to try some for fun. If you would be : so kind as to email me on how to order some. I live in Hawaii so : there are no little shops like you mentioned here. : : Catechu or gambir has been used extensively with henna for as long : as : : I know. My mom use it in all her henna mix (normally to henna : : skin, not hair), so did her mother and my grandma's mother and so : on. : : It seems like whenever I talk to another dear elderly lady, she : would : : mention "gambir" and ask if I add that to my mixture. She would : then : : insist that I add that as it would make the stain "darker and : redder". : : When my mom was little, my grandma would grind freshly plucked : henna : : leaves from her backyard together with pieces of catechu, then : apply : : rightaway on tamarind juice soaked skin. That's all the secret I : know : : on how to make the stain darker (then again, they had the luxury of : : fresh henna leaves, lucky things!!). : : : : I have to admit though that I don't see any significant change in : : colour compared to my caj/ravensara/t3/pine EO mix, though older : : ladies swear by it. The fact is, if the powder is fresh, even plain : : old tap water is enough to produce a dark stain. I've done this : before : : with very fresh Meccan henna. : : : : Oh, something OT about catechu, my grandma used to chew on betel : : leaves and she would add very tiny pieces of catechu folded in the : : leaves, "To make my lips red" she would say with a huge red grin on : : her face ;). I can get catechu easily in little Indian shops : selling : : betel leaves, coconut oil (for hair), herbs and spices and such. : : : : Love & peace, : : : : ~Jewel~
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