Origin
Acacia gum, a multifunction and nutritional hydrocolloid

There are many different botanical species of acacia, around 700 on all five continents. Although not all species produce gum exudate, only two are defined by the Food Agricultural Organisation as having acacia gum food status: Acacia senegal (Vulgares ) and Acacia seyal (Gummiferae ).

Gum-producing acacias are found only on the African continent, in the sub-Sahelian zone from Senegal to Ethiopia.

Acacia trees are sources of gum, either from plantation forests or in their natural state. Gum exudes naturally from the trunk and branches of the tree during the dry season from December to May. It is collected by hand by farmers after superficial peeling. The annual quantity harvested per tree is around 400 g, which underlines the important economic interest for the population, given the world market of around 55,000 t.

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