Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is a very old dyers plant, the so called dyers thistle.
Known since the old egyptian times.
In medieval times people used it to fake saffron dye. It is not lightproof but give wonderfull yellow, golden up to purpelish red colors.
Safflower does have 2 colors - Carthamin and Carthamidin - yellow and red.
Yellow is an regular dye and for red need to alkaline the dye and wash out the yellow before.
Both colours are very beautiful on silk.
The red is not a dye we would recommend for beginners.
Traditional the red was dyed with strawash to alkaline the water. Very good results, we still do it that way.
Not suitable for consumption.
