Knowde Enhanced TDS
Identification & Functionality
- Ingredient Name
- Food Ingredients Functions
- Pharma & Nutraceuticals Functions
- Ingredients
- Acacia Gum
- Product Families
- Origin
Gum acacia is an exudate from wild acacia trees and originates from the Central African "Gum Belt" that stretches from Senegal to Ethiopia in the south of the Sahara desert. Norevo's main supplier countries are Sudan, Chad, and Nigeria.
Features & Benefits
- Food Ingredients Features
- Product Highlights
To date, gum acacia is still harvested by hand in the form of amber-colored chunks. As a purely vegetable raw ingredient, it has a wide range of applications. It contains a polyfunctional hydrocolloid that offers excellent stabilizing and emulsifying properties; moreover, it is used as a natural adhesive and as an encapsulating agent in various recipes. With more than 100 years of experience in the procurement and refining of this valuable raw ingredient, Norevo has built a sustainable and stable network of partners in its African regions of origin.
- The Journey of Our Honey
Gum acacia is harvested by making small cuts on the bark of the acacia trees. This so-called tapping process makes resin ooze from the trees as "tears", where they subsequently dry and are harvested by hand. Immediately after the harvest, gum acacia pieces are soft in texture. They are subsequently dried in the sun and sorted before being packaged for export. Upon arrival at Norevo's production plant near Hamburg, gum acacia is dissolved in water, purified, pasteurized, and then dried to receive standardized powder qualities in a unique process: Our drum drying method is particularly gentle on the ingredients of gum acacia, thus ensuring top functionality for individual customer applications.
Applications & Uses
- Applications
- Food & Nutrition Applications
- Applications
Cereals
- In cereal bars and breakfast cereals, for example, gum acacia enhances moisture properties, provides a softer texture, and improves adhesion, consistency, and taste. It is also used as a component of icings or coatings.
Food
- The food industry uses gum acacia as an emulsifier, suspending agent, and stabilizing agent, e.g., for dairy products, dressings, sauces, or desserts.
Confectionary
- Gum acacia is used in the confectionery industry as a texturizer, barrier and film-building agent, coating, and glazing agent for pan-coated products and chewing gum.
Baked Goods
- Its use in bakery products is versatile, e.g., as a moisturizer, pre-coating agent, adhesive, or texturizer.
Cosmetics
- In the cosmetics industry, gum acacia has a wide variety of uses: as an emulsifier, stabilizer, thickener, or texturizer for creams, lotions, masks, and decorative cosmetics.
Beverages, Flavors, Wines & Beer
- Its use in the beverage industry is very versatile - whether as an emulsifier, a suspending agent, or a stabilizing agent for soft drinks, smoothies, or cocktails. It is also used as a carrier and encapsulating agent for flavored emulsion concentrates and spray-dried flavor powders, or as a stabilizing agent for wines and beer-mix beverages.
Pharma
- The pharmaceutical industry uses gum acacia, among other things, as a film-building and coating agent as well as a binding agent for pills, dragées, pastilles, and capsules. Moreover, it is used as a stabilizer for medical suspensions and emulsions.
Technical Applications
- Gum acacia is used in many different technological applications, e.g., as a stabilizer for watercolor and oil paints, as an emulsifier & carrier for writing & drawing inks, or as an adhesive for glues or on cigarette paper. It is also widely used in printing applications.
Properties
Regulatory & Compliance
- Certifications & Compliance
- Sustainability
Deforestation is a growing problem throughout the entire Gum Belt. Its acacia trees bind nitrogen and nourish and bind the soil, thus helping to reduce soil erosion. Moreover, the gum harvest is an important source of income for the local population. To the best of our knowledge and based on the information we receive from our suppliers, we could not observe any deforestation practices related to our gum acacia supply. We are convinced that acacia trees help the Gum Belt countries fight deforestation and desertification.