Read today’s Esterbrook Back to the Land Quirky Leaf ink review, the first ink review feature from the line of inks released in the Summer of 2024. Read on, and we’ll share the results from our standard ink tests and let you know what we think of this recent fountain pen ink release from the popular Esterbrook brand.

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The Ink Maker: Esterbrook Pens

Esterbrook Pens has been around since 1858. However, it disappeared for a chunk of time…reappearing in a big way in 2018. They’re now quite well known for the pen they released in 2018 upon their return. You may have heard of it…the Esterbrook Estie (fountain pen, rollerball, or ballpoint). What you might not be as familiar with is their ink. But they also make ink now and then. The last ink we saw Esterbrook release was a standard collection of inks, but their recently released collection is a themed series.

The Ink Series: Back to the Land

The Esterbrook Back to the Land Ink Series takes inspiration from the 1970s’ return to nature, capturing the era’s essence of free love and flower power in three vibrant ink colors.

• Funky Lake (a rich teal)
• Quirky Leaf (a bold green)
• Incredible Rock (a deep, earthy brown)

All three inks in the collection are designed to evoke the spirit of Americana and the great outdoors.

Today’s Ink: Esterbrook Back to the Land Quirkly Leaf Ink

Esterbrook’s Back to the Land Quirky Leaf ink is vivid, invigorating green inspired by nature’s bounty and trends of the 70’s.

Other Products/Materials Used During the Quirky Leaf Ink Review:

During our ink review, we used a few other items to complete the ink tests and show off the ink. Here’s a list of the other items you’ll see pop up during our Esterbrook Back to the Land Quirky Leaf ink review:

• J Herbin Glass Dip pen (writes similar to medium size nib)
• Rhodia lined paper
• cotton swab
• water

The Review: Esterbrook Quirky Leaf Ink Review

Check out all the ink review test results in the image below or read on to get a summary of how things went down as we put this peace-loving, nature-hugging green ink through our standard ink review tests.

How is the Back to the Land Ink Collection Packaged?

Each 30ml bottle is packaged in custom retro-themed packaging, and if you were around during the 70s, you’ll notice details that might take you on a nostalgic journey. The exterior box is made of sturdy cardboard material featuring a great, themed design with the ink’s name in a bold, obvious font, and the color of the printed color name indicates the color. The inks are packaged in 30ml glass ink bottles with a small to medium-sized opening and twist-off cap. The entire experience is unique, from the shape of the bottle to the package design and even the box closure that mimics the old-school string wrapping around two brads/rivets you used to see on manilla envelopes.

How Did Quirky Leaf Ink Perform During the 1-Dip Test?

During our 1 Dip Test, Quirky Leaf Ink was able to write all three lines on paper with plenty of ink left over on the dip pen.

How Fast Does Quirky Leaf Ink Dry?

We tested Quirky Leaf ink to see how quickly it dried (applying it to Rhodia paper with a J. Herbin spiral glass dip pen), and the dry time was approximately 10 seconds.

Did the Ink Bleed Through During the Ink Review?

We kept an eye out so we could tell you if we saw this ink bleeding during the review, but Quirkly Leaf was well-behaved, and we didn’t see any bleeding.

Does the Ink Show Any Feathering?

We also knew you’d wonder if this ink features, so we watched for any instances and saw….none. Quirky Leaf ink was not prone to feathering.

How Does Esterbrook Quirky Leaf Ink Respond to Water?

We also put Quirky Leaf ink through our typical water test (even though it doesn’t claim to be waterproof). For the water test, we put down a writing sample, let it dry for a minute, and then ran a wet cotton swab over the writing to see how the ink responded. Here’s what we noticed with Quirky Leaf ink:

• significant smearing
• ink ran across the page (but still no bleed-through)
• ink lines showed significant fading
• significant line distortion
• slight feathering

So basically, what we learned from the water test is that you should definitely not take Quirky Leaf swimming.

Did Quirky Leaf Ink Show Any Shading Traits During the Review?

Quirky Leaf has no shimmer or sheen.

But this green is is full of 70’s vibes and DOES offer some shading possibilities.

During our ink review tests, we saw this vibrant green lean toward:

• lime shades
• more classic green hues
• varying shades in between

We also noticed that Quirky Leaf ink tends not to dry evenly when applied with a cotton swab.

When you compare the dip pen writing samples to the swatches made with a cotton sway, you’ll notice it appears darker in writing. The swatch may indicate it could be hard to see on paper in writing, but it’s actually pretty dark on the page.

Conclusion: Esterbrook Quirky Leaf Ink Review

In conclusion, this vintage retro shading green ink is an interesting color in a very interesting collection, with the fun of the themed set reflected in the packaging and color names. The green shows up dark on paper and dries fairly quickly, so we’d suggest it as a good everyday ink. It does fade and smear significantly if exposed to water, so if there’s a chance of water exposure, you’ll want to choose a different ink! What ink should we test next? Let us know in the comments. And shop your favorite fountain pen inks at PenChalet.com.