Accordingly, the invention provides: (1) mesoporous silica characterized by having an average pore diameter in the mesopore region of from 1.5 to 10 nm, a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area determined by the BET method of from 500 to 1400 m²/g, and a monolayer adsorption of water at 25 C. of 1.7 H₂O molecules/nm² specific surface area or more; (2) a process for synthesizing the mesoporous silica characterized by mixing and reacting active silica with a neutral template and removing the neutral template from the thus formed complex; (3) ink absorbents characterized by containing mesoporous silica; (4) ink absorbent slurries composed of the above-described ink absorbent and a solvent; and (5) recording sheets characterized by containing the above-described ink absorbent.