What color is gamboge?

Gamboge is a partially transparent deep saffron to mustard yellow pigment. It is the traditional color used to dye Buddhist monks' robes, the Theravada Buddhist monks in particular.

The yellow-orange shade comes from the resinous sap of the gamboge tree, which is commonly found in Southeast Asia, and Cambodia in particular. Trees must be at least ten years old before they are tapped. The resin is extracted either by making spiral incisions in the bark, or by breaking off leaves and shoots, then letting the milky yellow resinous gum drip out. The resulting latex is collected in hollow bamboo canes. Once it has congealed, the bamboo is broken away, leaving rods of raw gamboge.

The pigment from the resin was first named in the early 17th century and it quickly popped up on the palettes of painters such as Rembrandt (1606-1669), J.M.W. Turner (1775-1861) and Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792). More recently, gamboge has been replaced by a synthetic pigment, aureolin, as the latter has proven to be more lightfast.

As a side note, the resin is also a strong purgative. A small amount can produce laxative effects; large amounts can be fatal.