Handmade Printer Paper (Belerica)

Be different with handmade printer paper. Kathmandu Valley Co. Lokta paper is made from Lokta bushes, a non-tree fibrous plant that grows on southern slopes of the Himalayan mountains.

Strips from the inner bark are cooked into a mash which is then spread by hand over boxed screens and set to dry in the Himalayan sun. The drying process binds the fibers together creating a beautifully textured paper with one side retaining the impression of the screen with the other side presenting a naturally formed texture.

Flecks from the outer bark pepper the page and gives each page a unique look and feel.

Vegetable-Dyed with Natural Belerica

“In traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine, Beleric is known as Bibhitaki (Marathi: Behada or Bhenda) (Terminalia bellirica). In its fruit form, it is used in the popular Indian herbal rasayana treatment triphala.” (See Wikipedia: Bellirica)

The fruit of the Belerica tree is also used for vegetable dyes, and is used to create the beautiful brownish-gold Belirica Lokta Paper.

Thank you for helping to preserve a 1,000 year old tradition in Nepali paper making and helping to support those affected by the earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015.

View Belerica