(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
Summer is fast-approaching, so that means bright and colorful ink options abound. What could be better in the summer than a cold frozen dessert on a hot day? Sorbet can certainly do the trick, and that's what this ink from Nahvalur has me thinking about every time I pick it up.
Nahvalur Mango Sorbet is a dusty yellow-orange ink from their Explorer line of inks. This line of inks complements the Original Plus line of vacuum filler pens, and Mango Sorbet is a direct match to Gold Ocellatus. I don't have the pen, but I imagine the yellow-orange Mango Sorbet looks great swirling around the transparent reservoir with yellow swirls in the material.
Regardless of what pen you use this ink with, the color that comes out on the page is really fun. I've struggled to nail down the exact color of this ink due to the level of shading it exhibits, but it's a lovely yellow-orange that switches between more yellow and more orange with each nib stroke. The color saturation is a little subdued, which is exactly what I'd expect from an ink color that mimics the inside of a mango. Mango is a sweet and pleasant fruit, but both the color and taste are balanced and not too up-front. The ink does a great job of representing what my imagination comes up with when you say the words "mango sorbet."
Going back to the shading properties, this is my favorite thing about the ink. I loved using this ink in a wide, wet nib because it really shows off how much color variation this ink has to offer. Regardless of what nib you use, the shading manages to shine and offer lighter and darker versions of the ink color with each stroke.
In some light, I can detect a little bit of green, but it's rare and only when swatching the ink with a brush. I wouldn't expect any nib to get this out of the ink under normal circumstances. But, it was really intriguing to see this when making large pools with the ink.
Something this ink touts is a quick dry time, but I would call it average dry time. It's not a quick drying ink, but usually becomes smudge-proof after 15 seconds. The lighter areas are dry much sooner, but those areas where ink pools under certain letters are what take several more seconds to dry. This probably isn't a great choice for left-handed writers or anyone who drags their hand behind the nib.
Everything else about this ink is fantastic. I haven't tried an Nahvalur inks before this, and I'm impressed by how well it performs. In my mind, the fact that a renowned pen manufacturer is producing ink does not automatically mean the ink will be any good. For Nahvalur, they've at least done a great job with this specific ink, and I look forward to trying others. It's also exciting to see them pairing inks with pens! I'm not a stickler for matching pens and inks, but it is nice to find that perfect pairing.
Mango Sorbet is $12 for a small 20ml bottle. That's a good value for what you get when comparing to similarly-sized ink vendors. You can certainly find better value when buying a Diamine ink, but they have significant scale and connection since it's their main focus. If the color intrigues you, it's a great impulse purchase. And, if you happen to have one of the Original Plus Gold Ocellatus pens, you should feel compelled to pick up this ink to see how it pairs with the pen!
(Goldspot provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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