玉たま藍あい

noun

indigo ball; ball of fermented indigo leaves

Traditional dyeing material made from dried, ground, and fermented leaves of dyer's knotweed (藍). Used in Japanese indigo dyeing. Compare with 藍玉, which is a similar term.

See also: 藍玉

• 藍あい染ぞめには玉たま藍あいを使つかいます。

  We use indigo balls for indigo dyeing.

• 玉たま藍あいを砕くだいて染せん料りょうを作つくる。

  Crush the indigo ball to make dye.