MULBERRY PAPER: PROCESS OF PAPER MAKING

The Mulberry Paper used to make the mulberry paper flowers are made by hand by Thais who lived in Northern Thailand. The source of the paper is from a fast growing tree Broussonetia papyrifera or known as Mulberry tree or Saa tree.

The paper making process begins by first collecting the bark then washed. It is then boiled to soften the fibre. Then left to cool and soak overnight before being washed copius times. Now the fibre is then beaten to pulp and left in a large vats to dissipate. It is then manually spread on bamboo frame lined with cotton screen (hence the chequered texture on the underside of paper). Then left to dry under hot sun. During the monsoon season June-October the supply of mulberry paper is very low.

Mulberry Paper industry is considered by the Thai Government as environmentally friendly as it is not mass produced and the plant is not killed during the harvest. As the plant is fast growing, it can sustained this slow growing industry.

Beware that some seller will brand their product as Mulberry Paper (sell at cheaper price) but actually made from cheap quality mass produced machine made paper which emulate the mulberry texture. The genuine mulberry paper should fray with cotton like texture (fluff) when you rub it between your finger. 

Hope this help so that you know you are buying genuine Mulberry Paper products.