#F9F9AE Hex Color

Black text is the clear choice, with a contrast ratio of about 19.2:1 against #f9f9ae. That easily clears the WCAG AA requirement of 4.5:1, so small body text stays readable.

Deep olive and charcoal give #f9f9ae the contrast its lightness needs, while warm gray keeps things softer. Avoid pale neighbors like white or light beige, which flatten it.