Cyperus papyrus is a royal crop that has traditionally grown in the marshy areas of the Nile Delta. The plant forms extensive papyrus forests, with stems that can grow up to five to six metres high. The craft of processing papyrus into paper requires great knowledge and skill, a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation in Egypt since the country's inception.
After harvesting, the outer green bark is removed and the pith of the plant is cut into fine strips and flattened. Soaking these strips in cold water for several days makes them supple and workable. They are then laid in two layers — horizontally and vertically — with the natural plant sap acting as a binding agent. The formed sheet is pressed to extract moisture and then finished with a natural glue, making the surface smooth and suitable for writing and drawing without ink bleeding.
