Also known as cochinilla (Spanish), grana cochinilla, carmine insect, “scarlet grain.”

Cochineal is a legendary natural dye derived from the dried bodies of Dactylopius coccus, a scale insect cultivated on prickly pear (nopal) cacti. These insects produce carminic acid, which makes up 19–22% of their body weight and yields brilliant reds, pinks, and purples.

Our cochineal comes directly from a small, sustainable farm in Peru, where it is cultivated organically on nopals and traded fairly. This ensures a consistently high carminic acid content for strong, reliable dye results, while also supporting farming families who keep this ancient tradition alive.

Did you know? Cochineal was once so valuable in colonial trade that it was second only to silver in exports from the Americas. The Aztecs and Maya used it for textiles, ritual objects, and manuscripts, and it remains one of the most lightfast natural red dyes.

Main dye compound: Carminic acid (Cochineal) (E120)
CI Natural Red 4 
Part used: Whole insect
Origin: Peru, sustainable and fair-trade farm

Shading Tips

• Wool (no mordant) → bright reds and pinks
• Alum (protein fibers) → crimson to magenta
• Tannin + alum (cellulose fibers) → rich bluish reds
• Cream of tartar (acidic bath) → pushes bath toward scarlet, intensifies reds
• Iron → deep purples, browns, and blackened reds
• Overdye with indigo → violets and plums