What is Gum Arabic?

Gum Arabic Latest News

Gum Arabic, essential in products like Coca-Cola and M&M's, is being increasingly trafficked from rebel-held Sudanese regions, complicating supply chains for Western companies.

About Gum Arabic

• It is a dried, water-soluble exudate that comes primarily from two species of acacia, Acacia senegal and A. seyal.
• Distribution: 
  • The trees are native to North Africa and grow mainly in the sub-Saharan or Sahel zone of Africa and also in Australia, India, and South America. 
  • A. senegal is found in some parts of India, mainly in the dry rocky hills of south east Punjab, in the northern Aravalli hills, and in other drier parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
• Major producing countries: Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Nigeria, and Sudan (market share of about 70%).
• Humans have in fact used gum arabic for thousands of years; one of its earliest known uses was as an embalming agent in ancient Egypt. 
• Gum Arabic has numerous applications, particularly in the food industry and in areas such as ceramics, painting, photography, and printmaking. 

Gum Arabic Properties

• It is a neutral or slightly acidic salt of a complex polysaccharide containing calcium, magnesium, and potassium cations.
• It is non-toxic, odourless, and has a bland taste, and it does not affect the odour, colour or taste of the system in which it is used.
• It is somewhat yellowish in colour.
• It is insoluble in oils and in most organic solvents, but usually dissolves completely in hot or cold water, forming a clear, mucilaginous solution.
• It yields L-arabinose, L-rhamnose, D-galactose, and D-glucuronic acid after hydrolysis.

Gum Arabic FAQs

Q1. Is gum arabic ok to eat?

Ans. Yes, gum arabic is safe to eat and is widely used in the food and beverage industry as a natural additive. 

Q2. Is gum arabic water-soluble?

Ans. It dissolves completely in hot or cold water, forming a clear, mucilaginous solution.

Q3. Is gum arabic soluble in oils?

Ans. It is insoluble in oils and in most organic solvents.

Source: ET