Locust bean gum (
LBG, also known as
carob gum,
carob bean gum,
carobin,
E410) is a
thickening agent and a
gelling agent used in
food technology. Locust bean gum is a
galactomannan vegetable
gum extracted from the
seeds of the
carob tree, mostly found in the
Mediterranean region. The long pods that grow on the tree are used to make this gum. The pods are
kibbled to separate the seed from the pulp. The seeds have their skins removed by an acid treatment. The deskinned seed is then split and gently milled. This causes the brittle germ to break up while not affecting the more robust endosperm. The two are separated by
sieving. The separated endosperm can then be milled by a roller operation to produce the final locust bean gum powder.