Chinese Sumac – Gall nut

Indicative color

  off white/ black

Product available in catalog

Gallnutt Powder (ref C18 – A17)

Scientific name: Rhus semialata Murr./ Rhus chinensis Mill.
French name: Galle de Sumac
English name: Chinese sumac
Botanical origin: China, Japan, Laos, Vietnam
Crop production: China
Part of plant used: Gallnut

Nomenclature

N° CAS: 5995-86-8
N° EINECS/ EC: 205-749-9
Nom INCI: /

Documents available

• Analysis report
• Technical specifications
• Material Safety Data Sheet
• Raw material information data sheet

Historical importance

Chinese sumac is a shrub. The galls harvested on this tree are used and known as “Chinese Wales”.
In China, these galls were used for mordanting silk or cotton before dyeing .

Blending with iron, it is the main source of gray on silk, especially for the dyeing of Nô theatre costumes in Japan.

Phytochemistry

It is the richest source of gallotanins (up to 77%).

Crop production – Manufacturing

Galls develop on Sumac leaves in response to the bite of an insect. They are clear and hollow shells 3 to 6 cm long. The wall is translucent and brittle. They are harvested on the tree in summer.

The tannin is extracted several times with water, purified on activated charcoal and then dried.