Sudan's Gum Arabic: the eternal healer

Sudan is rich in Acacia trees, known as gum trees. Like the Australian gum trees, the Gum Arabic is a natural healer.

Gum Arabic is is the production of gum from Acacia senegal, locally known in Sudan as Hashab. Sudan is distinguished for its monoculture of sengal – which means that this high quality gum is not mixed with other species.

This particular gum is grown in the tropical belt of Africa, says Dr. Abdelmagid Abdelgader of Sudan (Sudan Vision, October 2, 2013) – from Senegal to Eritrea and Ethiopia. In Sudan it covers a quarter of the country (mainly in Darfur and Kordofan), with up to five million people involved directly or indirectly in gum production. Not only is it useful as a natural healer, in the Sudan it re-fertilizes the soil after years of cropping, provides wood, feeds the local herds of cattle, contributes to soil stabilization, and helps to mitigate desertification.

Abdelgader maintains that gum consumption around the world increased from 750,000 tons in 1995 to 1.3 million tons in 2000, with its commercial global value increasing from USD$960 million to $2.7 million in the same period. Gum Arabic represents between 50,000-100,000 tons of gum consumption globally.

Gum Arabic is viscous and adhesive, with no specific colour, taste, or odour. It contains few calories and is said to reduce blood cholesterol, aid kidney problems and soothe gastro-intestinal illnesses. It is used commercially as a stiffener, thickener, creamer, foamer, base for adding body to substances, and as an agent to prevent colour changes in meat and milk. It also prevents crystallization of sugar in drinks when cooled. Therefore it is likely to be added to desserts, jams, beverages, medicines, cosmetics, inks, and dyes for textile printing. And also in nuclear reactors.

Gum Arabic has been in production in Sudan since the time of the Pharoahs, when it was used to embalm mummies. Export to other countries still occurs through Port Sudan in the country’s eastern Red Sea State. In fact, it used to be the country’s top export commodity until 1920 when cotton overtook top place.

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