Caesalpinia spinosa

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The Tara (Caesalpinia spinosa) is a small tree or thorny shrub of 3-5 m high with sheets bipinnadas, with 2-3 pairs of pinnas each one with 7-8 pairs of oblong - elliptical folíolos, subsésiles, of rounded apex and approximately 2.5 cm long. Yellow - orange flowers in inflorescences espiciformes erectas of 15-20 cm long. Flat vegetable of orange reddish color and of approximately 10-12 cm long.

It is a producing plant of tannins and of the one that dyes obtain. It has locally some medicinal applications. His fruits in infusion are used for gargles against tonsillitis, and in Colombia they prepare a depurative drink of the cholesterol. It multiplies for seeds. It needs free zones of freezes and sunny exhibition, not being demanding as for irrigations not to soils. It has a quite rapid growth.

Tara gum constitutes the clean, ground endosperm of the seeds of Caesalpinia spinosa. It is a white to yellowish white powder and consists chiefly of galactomannan-type polysaccharides. The ratio of galactose to mannose in tara gum is 1:3 (compared to 1:4 in locust bean gum and 1:2 in guar gum).

Tara gum is used as a thickening agent and stabilizer in a number of food applications. A solution of it is less viscous than a guar gum solution of the same concentration, but more viscous than a solution of locust bean gum. Blends of tara with modified and unmodified starches can be produced which have enhanced stabilization and emulsification properties, and these are used to advantage in the preparation of convenience foods.

Family: Caesalpiniaceae (Leguminosae). Common Name: Tara. Place of origin: Peru