TARA GUM

Tara Gum, commonly known as Tara is a small leguminous tree or thorny shrub native to Peru. It is also known as Tara Spinosa, Peruvian carob or spiny holdback. Tara gum is a seed gum which is similar to guar gum and locust bean gums. It is obtained from the ground endosperm of seeds from the Caesalpina spinosa plant of the Leguminosae family.  Chemically, Tara gum is comprised of polysaccharides, mainly galactomannans. It is white to yellowish, odorless powder. It can be used in combination with other gums like xanthan gum to form long-life suspensions. Tara gum is stable over a wide range of pH (3-11). Tara gum functions as a stabilizer, thickening agent and emulsifier in foods.