CHARACTERISATION OF GUM GHATTI AND COMPARISON WITH GUM ARABIC

摘要

Gum Ghatti, otherwise known as the Indian gum, is an exudate of the Anogeissus Latifolia tree belonging to the family Combretaceae. This tree species is widely found in all regions of India and Sri Lanka and has the reputation of having one of the largest forest coverage in India. Unlike gum arabic, gum ghatti is exuded naturally (without tapping) in the form of rounded tears of less than 1cm diameter, or in the form of larger vermiform masses. The gum has a glassy fracture and the colour of the exudate varies from very light brown to dark brown. Gum ghatti is collected manually in much the same way as most other natural tree exudate gums like gum arabic and gum karaya.