Gum tragacanth ✦

Gomme adragante

What it is

The name is Greek — tragos, goat, and akantha, thorn — for the low spiny Astragalus shrubs of the Iranian highlands whose slit stems weep the gum in ribbons. Iran has supplied most of the world's tragacanth for a very long time, and it is still gathered by hand, flake by flake.

In the kitchen

Work 1 to 1.5 % of the icing sugar's weight into gum paste, then wrap it and leave it a full day before rolling — undeveloped gum tears at the edges and will not take a thin petal. It dries hard in air rather than setting in the fridge, so keep every piece you are not working under film.

Goes with

Icing sugar White sugar Rose water Damask rose petals Pistachio Lemon Almond

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