Gum Tragacanth, an exudate of the Astragalus genus of plants of the Leguminosae family, has an ancient history. Theophrastus described it several centuries before Christ. The name comes from the Greek tragos (goat) and akantha (horn), and probably refers to the curved shape characteristic of the gum, which forms from breaks in the bark of the shrub.
Powdered tragacanth is odourless with a white to yellowish white colour. Its ability to swell in water forming a thick paste makes it a useful binder for incense making. Away from incense, Gum Tragacanth is also used extensively in cake decorating and especially when producing Royal Icing.
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