Ink House - Sesame Grass “Orange”

Ink House Sesame Grass “Orange” - ink drop

Based in Hong Kong, Ink House is probably most recognizable for their iconic “ink wall”. The eye-catching feature covers a huge curving wall and displays many, many hundreds of their ink bottles in a rainbow of colors. I visited their 2nd location in Seoul, which is conveniently connected with BlueBlack Pens and Inks. The shop has its own ink wall, and it is…amazing!

Ink House Sesame Grass “Orange” - color and edge

Today’s ink is translated as “Sesame Grass” on their website, but the box calls it “Orange” in English. (Sesame Grass feels far more appropriate, as there’s not even a hint of orange here.) It’s an iron gall ink (IG1302) produced by KWZ for Ink House. I had intended to buy IG1301 “Mandarin”, and both the box and bottle are labeled as Mandarin, but the ink in the bottle is clearly IG1301. These things happen, and I like the ink what I found.

Ink House Sesame Grass “Orange” - shading range

Sesame Grass is a complex brown. It’s an interesting ink that wears multiple masks based on your choice of both nib and paper. On coated papers, it shows as a dark chocolate brown with occasional flashes of mustard yellow-brown light areas, and a rich brown-black in saturation. I really favor the color on uncoated papers, where it brings a luscious medium brown and the same mustard lights. That may sound a bit plain, but there’s a unique, mysterious quality that makes it very appealing to the eye.

Ink House Sesame Grass “Orange” - uncoated paper

This is a very nice writing ink. It’s made by KWZ, so that’s no surprise, nor is the faint scent of vanilla. On close inspection, strokes aren’t always razor-sharp, but feathering was never a problem. Drying was quick on all papers tested, and as an iron gall ink, it’s highly water-resistant, too!

Ink House Sesame Grass “Orange” - strokes on Rhodia

Sesame Grass is a very nice ink. It performs well and is a very magnetic color. It’s quite pretty, especially on uncoated papers. I hope I have a chance to try more from Ink House!

Ink House Sesame Grass “Orange” - ink swatch card

Ink House Sesame Grass “Orange” - swatch comparisons

Ink House Sesame Grass “Orange” - bottle and packaging

November 2022