Acacia
A food additive. By Elena and Faith
Root bark of Acacia plant
Raw processed Acacia gum
Most chocolate coatings contain Acacia gum
In the history
Used by ancient Egyptian and Arabic civilizations to treat a variety of medical conditions, from colds to leprosy, the acacia plant still plays a role in modern food and medicine.
Used as:
Skin wounds such as burns,cuts or leprosy
-Digestive issues
-Gonorrhea
-Coughs
-Colds
Where can we find it?
You can find acacia at most health food stores in powder, capsule, or gum form. It’s also an ingredient in many snack foods and candies like gum drops and marshmallows, as well as in some traditional Arabic desserts.
Did you know?
During droughts, acacia bark would split open, allowing sap to ooze out. Once the droplets dried, people would harvest them. Today, sap is harvested by “tapping” the trees with either a machine or boring insects.