While we all are enjoying sunny and warm spring days, Easter – the most celebrated spring holiday in the world, is coming closer.What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about Easter? The two most common associations are family gathering and egg hunt. Many people all around the world enjoy a popular tradition, they color eggs, hide Easter baskets, and search for hidden treats with pleasure.

Why People Dye Eggs?

Everybody knows that there is a tradition to dye eggs before the Easter, but not all know how did this tradition appear.

Easter egg is a symbol of the Holy Sepulchre, in which the eternal life was hidden.

The legend says that the stone that closed the tomb of Jesus Christ, resembled the outline of an egg. We know that under the egg shell lies a new life. Thus, the Easter egg is a reminder of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, salvation and eternal life. And red color, which is one of the most used colors, symbolizes the suffering and blood of Christ.

So when did this tradition appear?

The first mention of dyed eggs is found in manuscripts of the tenth century, found in the library of the Greek monastery of St. Anastasia. According to the manuscript, after the Easter service the Abbot handed out blessed eggs to the brethren with the words: “Christ is Risen!”.

Natural Egg Coloring With Kombucha Vinegar

Many people buy simple food coloring in the grocery store to dye Easter eggs, but there is another, simple and natural way to color eggs!

To prepare a natural egg coloring you need to follow these simple steps:

• Place the natural dye base in a bowl and pour 2-3 cups of water to cover it. Bring to boil and keep on a small heat for about 10 minutes.
• Wash boiled eggs and dry them. This will help you to reach a better color because the oily residues on the eggs will be removed.
• When your dye base is ready, pour it into jars and add Kombucha vinegar (1 Tbsp per every cup of dye).
• Carefully put eggs into hot dye and soak until you get the desired color. To reach the brightest color, you can keep eggs in the dye for 24 hours.

The coloring made of flowers and Kombucha vinegar has bright colors but doesn’t contain harmful chemicals.

What Natural Dye Base To Use?

There are many natural ingredients that can help you reach almost any desired color, and here are a few ideas:

For Red Color

Use skins of read onions, pomegranate juice, raspberries or canned cherries with juice.

For Pink Color

Take red grape or cranberry juice, fresh raspberries or cranberries, beets.

For Violet Color

Use purple grape juice with water or violet flowers with two teaspoons of lemon juice.

For Blue Color

Use canned blueberries, lots of purple grape juice or red cabbage leaves.

For Violet Blue Color

Use red wine, violet flowers without adding lemon juice, or red onion skins.

For Green Color

Take spinach leaves or fresh basil.

For Yellow Color

Take orange or lemon peels, chamomile, celery seeds, ground cumin or turmeric, or carrot tops.

For Orange Color

Use skins of yellow onion, carrots, chili powder or paprika.

For Brown Color

Take strong coffee, Darjeeling Black Tea or shells of black walnuts.

For Golden Brown color

Use Jasmine Green Tea or dill seeds.

Get ready for the Easter with B-Tea and have a wonderful holiday!

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