Acacia gum, question by question.

Acacia gum, also called gum arabic, is the naturally hardened sap of certain Sahel acacia trees, mainly Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal. It is a complex, water-soluble polysaccharide used as an emulsifier, stabiliser, coating agent and fibre source in food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. It has been harvested for more than 4,000 years.

Yes. Gum arabic and acacia gum refer to the same product. E414 is its food additive number in the European Union. In cosmetics its INCI name is Acacia Senegal Gum, and its CAS number is 9000-01-5.

It comes from the Sahel gum belt, a band crossing Africa from west to east, south of the Sahara. Chad is one of the main producing countries. Détails Import's gum is harvested in Chad and checked at our Ndjari site in N'Djamena.

Harvesters make fine incisions in the acacia bark. The sap flows, hardens in the sun and forms gum tears, which are picked by hand a few weeks later. The gum is then sorted by grade, colour and size, cleaned and naturally sun-dried.

Acacia senegal is the reference gum for emulsification, especially in flavoured beverages. Acacia seyal gives a more friable gum, used notably in confectionery and in applications where emulsifying power is less critical. Both fall under the E414 code.

Raw gum comes as natural nodules that you dissolve and filter yourself: it suits manufacturers equipped for that step. Spray-dried gum is a fine powder obtained by dissolving, filtering and spray-drying: it dissolves quickly and goes straight into production.

To emulsify essential oils or citrus flavours in a beverage, Acacia senegal gum is preferred, usually spray-dried for fast dissolution and precise dosing.

At Détails Import, raw gum is delivered in 50 kg or 25 kg polyethylene-lined bags and spray-dried gum in 25 kg bags, by the bag, pallet or container.

Yes. It is authorised as food additive E414 under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. Its purity specifications are set by Regulation (EU) No 231/2012. In cosmetics it falls under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.

Yes. It is a tree exudate, 100% plant-based, with no animal-derived ingredients, and naturally gluten-free. Our technical data sheets also declare it GMO-free and free from food allergens. Claims made on a finished product remain the manufacturer's responsibility.

At Détails Import, every lot is tested by the independent laboratory Eurofins: moisture (below 15%), total ash (below 4%), pH (4 to 6), viscosity (60 to 150 cP), microbiology (total aerobic count below 10,000 cfu/g, absence of Salmonella and E. coli).

A lot certificate of analysis, the technical data sheet, the safety data sheet, a phytosanitary certificate and a certificate of origin. Détails Import is also ISO 22000 certified.

Acacia gum is soluble in about two volumes of water and insoluble in alcohol and most organic solvents. Raw gum is dissolved in water while stirring, then the solution is filtered. Spray-dried gum disperses directly in the water phase.

In a dry, ventilated place at room temperature, away from light. Under these conditions its shelf life is 3 years from the lot's production date.

In food: emulsifier for beverages, coating for confectionery, stabiliser for wines. In pharmaceuticals: tablet binder, suspending agent, coating. In cosmetics: film former, emulsion stabiliser, hair fixative. In nutrition: soluble fibre source and microencapsulation carrier.