As in many other areas of life, so in the holiday preparations, we strive to follow the principles of sustainability. Therefore, when it comes to dye our Easter eggs, we naturally look at the colours which Nature can provide. It is fun, and an exciting and challenging endeavor. We usually have a lot ofsurprising and unexpected results, because every year, in addition to using natural dyes we already know, we embark on new experiments. With our experience so far, we have identified two colours which always turn out perfectly - red and yellow. With others, success varies over the years, but this only encourages us to experiment again. Traditionally, on the Thursday or Saturday before Easter, the kitchen becomes a laboratory for alchemists and explorers, looking for the colours of Nature.

Here we will present the results of our experiments so far. We have tried different techniques. One option is to boil the eggs directly with herbs and spices. If the colour is still not vibrant enough, the eggs can remain in the saucepan until the decoction cools. We can also make the decoctions separatelyand then put the pre-boiled eggs inside. Regarding the colour saturation, in both methods we achieved very strong and saturated colours, as well as paler. Rather, it depends on the concentration of "colourant" in the decoction and whether the herb (if dry) is fresher or older.

Red: Red is the colour with which we begin the ritual and is filled with most symbolism. We have made many attempts to achieve the colour red. We have used red beet roots and red onion peels. The eggs should stay in them longer and the result would be satisfactory for lovers of paler colours. We achieved the most intense red with Madder (Rubia tinctorum).

Yellow: Yellow is one of the easiest colours to achieve. There are no big surprises, because turmeric is a strong natural dye and it always gives excellent results.

Blue: For blue, you can use blueberries. The result is really impressive. Boil about 20 grams of dried blueberries per 1 liter of water and leave the eggs to soak in the decoction until you get the desired shade.

Lighter blue can be obtained with Hibiscus tea or red (purple) cabbage.

Very interesting blue or rather purple is obtained by boiling eggs in red wine. Fine crystals form on the surface of the egg, which gives texture as an additional effect.

Green: To get green we have boiled a lot of "grass" over the years. We tried nettles, spinach, parsley and all sorts of cultivated and wild greens. It turns out that here we need to think like painters and remember the basic rules of colour science. Which colours do we get green from? From blue and yellow, of course. Put more eggs in the blue paint and then dip some of them in turmeric. Voilà! Green!

Using the same method, you can make purple from blue and red, as well as orange from red and yellow. We usually stick to the first four colours, which do turn out in quite different shades, and so the eggs are colourful enough.

It is advisable to use eggs with white shells, but we all know that sometimes it is difficult to find them just before Easter. Especially if you do not buy them from the store, where before Easter, they sell eggs with white shells only. If you prefer to buy them from a trusted farmer, you can first decide - which eggs to use for which colours. Set aside the palest for yellow. It is a lighter colour and if the base is dark, it will become more orange or brown. Use the darker ones for red, because Madder is a very strong herb, and red is a bright colour that will be easily obtained on dark eggs.

The ritual of dyeing eggs is a ritual for health, so let's colour the eggs with natural dyes.