Pelikan Edelstein - Mandarin

Pelikan Edelstein - Mandarin - Ink drop

This is a gorgeous ink, one of the more striking from Pelikan’s Edelstein series. As you know, Edelstein inks come in very beautiful, very substantial, 50ml bottles. They come at a premium cost, too, but they’re often worth it.

Pelikan Edelstein - Mandarin - Light to dark shades

Mandarin is a bright, potent orange that very much resembles the fruit from which it takes its name. When I bought it, I wondered how it would compare with Iroshizuku Fuyu-gaki, and it’s nowhere near as brash, and much more citrus in color.

Pelikan Edelstein - Mandarin - Shading and edge

I’ve included a comparison with several similars, but what stands out is the stunning yellow base. This is a wonderful shading ink, and it’s here that the yellow is so important. Together with a nice stroke edging, this ink is clean and crisp, and it will brighten any day.

Pelikan Edelstein - Mandarin - Written strokes on Rhodia

Mandarin is a pleasant writing ink. It’s not as wet as you may expect, but I wouldn’t call it dry, either. That said, I do recommend using it in medium or broader nibs to get the best performance. I also recommend coated papers to get the full visual show. Drying varied by paper, but it was average, overall.

Pelikan Edelstein - Mandarin - Ink swatch card

Pelikan Edelstein inks are not cheap (so different from their 4001 series). That’s the only real pause factor. Do I like Mandarin? Absolutely! However, there are fairly similar options for a lot less. Then again, that bottle is hard to resist! Difficult decision, but if you do try it, you won’t be disappointed.

Pelikan Edelstein - Mandarin - Ink swatch comparisons