Natural ingredients like herbs and spices offer an endless variety of hues for dyeing eggs - from the soft purple shades of hibiscus to the rich gold tones of turmeric. Dyeing times are a little longer and the colors less intense than with chemical-based dyes - but eggs are subtly stunning, original and natural.
The dyes are made by bringing water, dyestuff, and a mordant (to help the colors penetrate the eggshell) to a boil in a non-aluminum pot. (Distilled water works best.) Raw eggs (white eggs work best, of course) can simply be cooked in the colored water and then soaked, or hard boiled eggs can be soaked in the cooled dye water until the desired color is reached. (Leaving overnight in the refrigerator intensifies colors.)
Natural mordants include alum, cream of tartar, and white vinegar. One tablespoon of mordant should be added for each cup of water.
Here's a list of some herbs and spices to use as dyes and the colors they yield:
Hibiscus flowers - Reddish blue/lavender
Turmeric root powder - Deep gold
Safflower petals - Pale yellow
Curry powder - Pale orange
Chili powder - Reddish brown
Paprika - Orange
Dill seed - Soft brown
Yarrow - Tannish yellow
Other natural products that make lovely dyes include annatto seed, beet juice or beet powder, berries, coffee, grape and cranberry juices, lemon and orange peels, red cabbage leaves, tea, and onion skins (red and yellow).