Gum Paste

Ingredients

• 4 oz white gum tragacanth
• 1 pt warm water
• 3 lbs powdered sugar
• 2 lbs fine starch
• ½ lb sugar
• 1 drop blue coloring

Directions

1. Soak 4 oz of gum tragacanth in 1 pint of warm water for 24 hours until dissolved.

2. Force the mixture through a towel by twisting.

3. Rub the gum on a marble slab for 10 minutes, gradually adding 3 lbs of powdered sugar until the paste is white and tough.

4. For flowers, work in 2 lbs of fine starch and ½ lb of sugar into ½ lb of the stock mixture.

5. For moulds, mix 2 lbs of sugar and 1 lb of starch into 2 lbs of the stock mixture, adding 1 drop of blue coloring.