PaperMaking from Plants:
Chicory Paper

Chicory yielded a green paper that faded to a slightly olive tan as it dried in the sun.

The blender processed paper is stiffer than the beaten paper. The paper is a bit more stiff than corn husk, burdock - a smoother surface than I thought it would be from the blendering.


Blender-processed chicory paper

I prefer beating for this fiber....it surprised me, because the wet pulp felt like it would drain fast and be just a fiber mat that I would have to dry on the mould. Nope. It drained at just the right speed, neither in a whoosh nor at a snail's pace. It couched easily, in both forms.

I think I cooked it for 8-10 hours in washing soda. I was unable to cook it continuously, as I could not withstand the additional heat in the house (having recently had my outside electric burner expire), but I know I had several multi hour sessions. (This is July 2003.)

It was tough. I suspect that now may be the best time to gather it--- before it flowers, before it summer hardens, those lower stems are tough.

I beat it for about 15 minutes-- as the pulp seemed to disappear. Mind you, I had blendered it all, thinking that was all it needed. After feeling like it needed a little bit more, and not getting there from more time in the blender, then I set up the Cherub. The material that seemed to take so long to process in the blender was transformed almost immediately by the beater. Next time I will only beat it.


Beaten chicory paper

Cichorium L. chicory
Symbol: CICHO
Group: Dicot
Family: Asteraceae



Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass Asteridae -

Order Asterales -
Family Asteraceae - Aster family

Genus Cichorium L. - chicory

This information from plants.usda.gov

Hand Papermaking WebRing|Sources on the Net|Creators on the Net|
Suppliers|Reading|Akua's Workshops 2003|Making Paper Bowls|
PaperWorks Debut| On Armature for Pulp and Papier Maché|Making Paper Overview|
Casting Notes| Making Big Paper|On the Critter | Sally Fox, inventor |Woven Heart|The Cherub, another Revolution in Studio Papermaking!| Making Paper From Arugula| Burdock Paper| Catalpa Bean Paper| Cattail Paper| Cattail Head Paper | Carrot Paper| Dandelions and Green PaperMaking| Dracaena Paper| My First Gampi| Grass Paper| Ground Ivy Paper | Hemp Paper| Hydrangea Paper | Making Paper From Hostas and Teasels| Jerusalem Artichoke Leaf Paper| My First Kozo| Kudzu Paper | Milkweed Paper Milkweed Fluff Paper| Paper Mulberry Paper| Queen Anne's Lace Paper| Smartweed Paper | Early Spiderwort Paper| Spurge Paper | Teasel Top Paper| Wheat Straw Paper | Yucca Paper |