Description
Product: Arabic Gum
Latin Name: Acacia Senegal syn. Senegalia Senegal.
Plant Family: Fabaceae
Other Names: Gum Arabic, Acacia Gum, Gum Senegal Tree, Chaar Gund, Char Goond, Meska, CapeGum, Goma Arábiga, Gomme Acacia, Gomme Arabique, Gomme d’Acacia, Gum Acacia, Khadir, Kher, Kumatia, Rfaudraksha, Hashab & Egyptian Thorn.
Description: Our High Quality Arabic Gum is not treated by heat and is in its natural state and comes from a deciduous shrubby tree native to the semi-desert regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as north-western India. The tree reaches a height of between 7-15 metres; the bark of older trees is gnarly and dark grey in colour, smooth on younger trees. The leaves are bi-pinnate, up to 2.5cm in length and comprised of 3-8 paired pinnacles each with 5-25 pairs of leaflets, each leaflet is 1-9mm in length and light to mid-green in colour. The tree flowers only during the rainy season, the 5-petaled, 2-lipped flowers form spiked drooping panicles approximately 5-10cm in length and yellowish-white in colour. The fruits 1.5-9cm in length, and are flat, papery and yellowish to brown in colour.
Brief History: The use of Arabic gum dates back to the 1st Egyptian Dynasty circa 3400 B.C., where it was used to make ink for the Egyptian scribes. Ancient Egyptians also used the bark to tan hides and the pods from the tree were used as food and medicine. The astringent nature of the leaves meant that they made good would healing poultices, the ancient Egyptians also combined the gum and distilled water from the herb with the leaves to make a kind of herbal plaster of paris for putting on broken bones. Paintings showing the acacia tree in all its glory were discovered on the walls of the tombs of Amenmose, high priest of Amenhotep (18th Dynasty – circa 1526-1506 B.C.) and Khons Ta the high priest of king Thutmose III (19th Dynasty - circa 1279-1213 B.C.).
SUGGESTED USE
Arabic gum is a complex mixture of polysaccharides (sugars) and glycoproteins which make it ideally suited to making glues which are edible. It is used in the manufacture of confectionary, and is favoured by cake decorators for fixing edible flowers and decorations to cakes. It’s been used as a ‘lickable’ adhesive on items such as stickers, envelopes and postage stamps, in the manufacture of paints, inks and pigments. The cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries use it as a binding agent and emulsifier.Shelf Life
Shelf life of two years provided that goods are stored in an airtight container in ambient conditions.
Technical Information
Allergen Statement
JustIngredients Limited supplies a range of products that are internationally sourced from approved suppliers. Nuts, gluten, celery and mustard are handled on our sites. Handling procedures are in place to reduce the likelihood of allergens being present, but we cannot guarantee our ingredients are totally free of traces in the products supplied. Please see the product specification for more information. If in doubt, please email technical@justingredients.co.uk.
Delivery Information
Please note that bulk and non-bulk items will be delivered separately.
Bulk = items over 1kg in weight
Non Bulk = items 1kg or below in weight
Ordered before 1pm Monday - Friday?
We endeavour to dispatch non-bulk items on the same day as receipt of your order (when placed before 1pm). During evenings or weekends, please allow 1-2 days for your order to be dispatched.
For bulk items, we endeavour to dispatch items within 2 workings days.
Need bulk items urgently? Please contact our sales department before placing your order on sales@justingredients.co.uk
JustIngredients Limited