Description

Gum Ghatti is a water-soluble complex polysaccharide exuded from the bark of the tree Anogeissus latifolia of the family Combretaceae. The tree is quite large and found in large numbers in the dry, deciduous forests of India and Ceylon. The crude gum has a glossy fracture and occurs in rounded tears, which are normally less than 1 cm. in diameter. It also occurs in larger vermiform masses. The color of the gum exudates varies from off white to dark brown. The lighter the color, the better the quality. Since Ghatti and Karaya are found in the same geographic areas, the harvesting and grading are similar. The best crops are picked when the monsoon is not occurring, and the largest crop is harvested in April. After picking the gum, it is dried in the sun for several days before being taken to the exporters in Bombay. It is then hand sorted according to color and impurities into various grades before being exported to the United States.

Applications

Ghatti stabilizes butter-containing table syrups.