Natural dyed Easter eggs

This was my first time natural dying eggs and I am not really sure how I feel about the result. I do love the colours but was expecting them to be more even.. They are definitely interesting with this marble kind of effect. ;)

Ingredients

12-14 eggs

3dl peeled, grated beets+6dl water

3dl onion peels+6dl water

2tbsp turmeric+3dl water

2tbsp ground pepper+3dl water

3tbsp loose green tea+3dl water

1tbsp vinegar per 2,5dl dye-the liquid remaining after simmering

Olive oil for polishing

Process

In a large pot add cold water and eggs. Place on a high heat until it reaches boiling point and continue boiling for 12 minutes. Remove from the heat, discard the water and let the eggs come to room temperature. 

Place grated beets, onion peels and green tea, each in separate pot, add water, bring to boil then reduce the heat to simmering point. Cover each pot with a lid and simmer for 1-1,5 hours or until you reach deep purple, orange and green colour. 

Place turmeric and ground pepper, each in separate pot, add water, bring to boil then reduce the heat to simmering point. Cover each pot with a lid and simmer for 15-30 minutes or until you reach deep yellow and orange colour. 

When you have reached the desired colour, remove the pot from the heat and leave until the liquid cools down. Strain and pour the liquids into bowls/jars, add vinegar. Add the hard boiled eggs to the dye, make sure that they are completely submerged. Leave until you reach the desired colour.

I used white eggs and after 10-12 hours in beet and onion dye, they developed deep purple and orange colour so I transferred them on to a cooling rack so that they could dry. Then, using my fingers, I scrubbed of the outer layer of the dye and was left with the more subtle colour. The rest of the eggs I left in for 24 hours, then I transferred those too to the cooling rack and let them dry. 

Using a bit of cotton and some olive oil polish the eggs.

Happy Easter!

M