What is the chemical structure of Guar Gum?

Guar Gum is a galactomannan with the repeating formula (C6H10O5)n: a linear β-1,4-linked D-mannose backbone with α-1,6-linked D-galactose side units at a mannose:galactose ratio of approximately 2:1. Molecular weight ranges from about 50,000 to 8,000,000 Da.

Is Guar Gum soluble in cold water?

Yes. Cold-water solubility is Guar Gum's defining commercial advantage among natural gums — it hydrates fully at ambient temperature without heating, reaching peak viscosity in roughly 2 hours for standard grades and under 3 minutes for fast-hydrating (FHGG) grades.

What viscosity range is available?

Commercial grades run from 2,000 to 6,500+ cps measured at 1% concentration. Food applications typically use 3,000–5,000 cps; oilfield fracturing grades and high-viscosity HICOL grades reach 5,500–6,500+ cps.

What is the pH stability range of Guar Gum?

Guar Gum solutions are stable between pH 4.0 and 10.0, with maximum viscosity around pH 6–9. Prolonged exposure to strong acid combined with heat causes hydrolysis and viscosity loss.

How much Guar Gum should be used in food?

Typical dosage rates: ice cream 0.2–0.5%, bakery 0.1–0.5%, sauces and dressings 0.3–0.8%, beverages 0.05–0.2%, and gluten-free doughs 0.5–1.0% of flour weight.

How does Guar Gum compare to Xanthan Gum?

Guar Gum is significantly cheaper and gives higher viscosity per unit at neutral pH, while Xanthan Gum offers superior acid, salt and freeze-thaw tolerance. The two are commonly blended for synergy — a typical 80:20 guar:xanthan blend gives cost-efficient stability across a wider pH range.

What is the regulatory status of Guar Gum?

Guar Gum is GRAS in the United States under FDA 21 CFR 184.1339, authorised in the EU as E412 under Regulation 1333/2008, listed by Codex Alimentarius as INS 412, approved as a food additive in Japan, and covered in China by national standard GB 1886.69-2016.

What does Guar Gum cost?

Indicative FOB India pricing: food grade $3–8/kg, industrial grade $2–5/kg, pharmaceutical grade $5–12/kg and organic grade $8–15/kg. Price varies with viscosity, mesh size, purity and order volume, and tracks guar seed and split markets in Rajasthan.

How is Guar Gum manufactured?

Six stages: seed cleaning, dehusking and splitting, milling of the endosperm splits, screening to the target mesh, quality testing (viscosity, moisture, protein, ash, microbiology), and packaging in 25 kg multi-wall bags or 750–1000 kg jumbo bags.

Is Guar Gum ETO-free?

It must be for EU-bound food shipments. B.D. Guar export lots are steam-sterilised and ethylene-oxide free, with residues below 0.1 mg/kg, meeting EU Regulation 2026/196 requirements effective 18 August 2026.

Which countries produce Guar Gum?

India supplies over 80% of world production, concentrated in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana. Pakistan is the second producer, with smaller volumes from the United States (Texas), Sudan and Australia.

Guar Gum Knowledge Center

Guar Gum: The Complete Technical & Commercial Guide

Chemistry, specifications, application dosage rates, hydrocolloid comparisons, global market data, worldwide regulatory status and pricing — compiled by B.D. Guar (HICOL), manufacturing Guar Gum in Kalol, Gujarat since 1983.

Quick Answer

What is Guar Gum?

Guar Gum (E412, CAS 9000-30-0) is a natural galactomannan polysaccharide extracted from the seeds of the guar plant (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba). It is the most cost-effective natural thickening agent, offering 5–8x the viscosity of starch at equivalent concentrations, hydrating fully in cold water, and remaining stable between pH 4.0 and 10.0.

Chemical properties

Chemical formula	(C6H10O5)n — mannose:galactose ratio approximately 2:1
Molecular weight	50,000 to 8,000,000 Da
Solubility	Cold-water soluble — unique among natural gums
pH stability	4.0–10.0
Viscosity	2,000–6,500+ cps at 1% concentration
CAS / E number / INS	CAS 9000-30-0 · E412 · INS 412
Rheology	Pseudoplastic (shear-thinning), non-gelling in water alone

Guar Gum applications by industry

Guar Gum vs other hydrocolloids

Property	Guar Gum	Xanthan Gum	CMC	Locust Bean Gum	HPMC
Relative cost	Lowest of the group	2–4× guar	1.5–2× guar	3–5× guar	3–6× guar
Viscosity at 1%	2,000–6,500+ cps	1,200–1,600 cps	500–4,000 cps	2,500–3,500 cps (hot)	100–100,000 cps (grade dependent)
Source	Guar seed (natural)	Bacterial fermentation	Chemically modified cellulose	Carob seed (natural)	Chemically modified cellulose
Solubility	Cold water	Cold water	Cold water	Requires heating to ~80 °C	Cold water (disperse hot)
pH stability	4.0–10.0	2.0–12.0	5.0–9.0	4.0–10.0	3.0–11.0
Key synergies	Xanthan, carrageenan, LBG	Guar, LBG (gels)	Guar, protein systems	Xanthan, carrageenan (gels)	Limited; used for thermal gelation

Full Guar Gum vs Xanthan Gum comparison →

The global Guar Gum market

India supplies more than 80% of world Guar Gum production, with Pakistan second and small volumes from the United States (Texas), Sudan and Australia.

Indian cultivation is concentrated in Rajasthan (the largest producing state), Gujarat and Haryana, all monsoon-dependent rain-fed crops sown in June–July and harvested October–November.

Demand splits broadly between food and personal-care hydrocolloid use and oilfield fracturing demand, which is the main source of price volatility. Prices track NCDEX guar seed and guar gum futures.

Principal importing regions are the United States (food and oilfield), the European Union (food, with the strictest ETO residue rules), China and the Middle East.

For current market pricing and drivers, see our Guar Gum price tracker.

Regulatory status worldwide

Jurisdiction	Status
United States (FDA)	GRAS — 21 CFR 184.1339
European Union	E412 — Regulation (EC) 1333/2008
Codex Alimentarius	INS 412
Japan	Approved food additive (List of Existing Food Additives)
China	National standard GB 1886.69-2016
India (FSSAI)	Permitted thickener/stabiliser under FSS Regulations

EU-bound food shipments must also meet ethylene oxide residue limits — see EU Regulation 2026/196 compliance.

Pricing guide

Grade	Indicative FOB India price
Food grade (E412)	$3–8 / kg
Industrial grade	$2–5 / kg
Pharmaceutical grade	$5–12 / kg
Organic grade	$8–15 / kg

Factors affecting price: viscosity grade (higher cps commands a premium), mesh size and granulation, purity (AIR, protein, ash), certification requirements (organic, Kosher, Halal), order volume, packaging and Incoterms.

How Guar Gum is made

1. Seed cleaning

Guar seed is destoned, de-dusted and graded to remove foreign matter and immature seed.

2. Dehusking & splitting

Seed is roasted, cracked and separated into husk, germ and endosperm splits — the splits carry the galactomannan.

3. Milling

Splits are ground in stages, with hydration and flaking used to control final viscosity development.

4. Screening

Powder is sieved to target mesh (typically 100, 200 or 300 mesh) to set dispersion and hydration rate.

5. Quality testing

Viscosity (BV1.04B / BV103B, Fann 35SA for oilfield), moisture, protein, ash, AIR, granulation and microbiology per lot.

6. Packaging

25 kg multi-wall paper bags with PE liner, 50 kg bags, or 750 kg / 1 MT jumbo bags, with COA issued within 24 hours.

See the Kalol manufacturing facility →

Frequently asked questions

Continue reading

Guar Gum vs Xanthan Gum →

Technical glossary →

Compare HICOL grades →

Top 10 Guar Gum manufacturers in India →

Quality control & COA process →

Product catalogue →

Need a specification or a sample?

Our technical team issues full COAs within 24 hours and ships 1–5 kg qualification samples worldwide.

Talk to a Technical Specialist