ABSTRACT
Crystal gum; Jum karaya; Gum sterculia; Partially oxidized, partially deacetylated gum karaya; Indian tragacanth; Indian tragacanth gum; Kadaya; Kadaya gum; Karaya gum (CI); Katilo; Katilo gum; Kullo; Kullo gum; Kuteera; Mucara; Silex gum; Sterculia; Sterculia gum
Description:
Gum karaya is the exudate of
Sterculia urens
, a tall (30 ft) bushy tree, native to India, where it grows in forests of the eastern and central mountains. The trees are tapped and the exudate, which may be several pounds in weight, is collected and sold at auction. Crude gum karaya is cleaned, ground, sized and blended to obtain uniform grades. Impurities range from 0.1 to 3% and consist primarily of bark, but other foreign matter may be present. The part used is exudate from the bark. The gum has a slight vinegar smell.
