tylose vs CMC in making gumpaste

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sandi Newsome on September 15, 2012 at 3:07pm

I've made gum paste using Tylose Powder using Nicholas Lodge's recipe from his web site and also using Gum Tragacanth using Scott Clark Woolley's recipe and I like the Tylose Powder recipe better.  To be honest I don't remember what it was about it I liked better but it works beautifully.  In addition the Tylose is less expensive than the Gum Tragacanth, it makes a whiter gum paste, and having it around allows me to add it to fondant if all I want is a small portion of paste.  In addition if you are using fondant to cover a cake and have to mix you own colors you can take a small portion of the fondant and add Tylose to it to make decorations to match that you may want to harden.  And the Tylose Powder  makes a great glue for you pieces.

Permalink Reply by art deco cakes by galidink on September 15, 2012 at 3:34pm

I AGREE WITH WITH SANDRA !

Permalink Reply by Bettina Dwyer on September 15, 2012 at 5:56pm

Gum trag was the one that was traditionally used back in the day; it was the only option, but since it is only grown and exported from the middle east (and between fighting and trade sanctions) it is expensive and not available all the time.
Old cake decorators swear by it for making the perfect flowers, but, like Sandra, I have used CMC (aka Tylose) to make flowers and have had no problems. CMC also holds up better in high humidity. I use CMC when I make figures and pieces for my cakes with no problems. CMC is merely the cheaper more affordable alternative the gum trag and it doesn't add colour to your paste, so you have a true white to add colour to.

Permalink Reply by Sandi Newsome on September 15, 2012 at 9:03pm

I haven't used CMC, I think it may be a brand name.  I bught plain old tylose powder and it is less expensive.
 
Bettina Dwyer said:

Gum trag was the one that was traditionally used back in the day; it was the only option, but since it is only grown and exported from the middle east (and between fighting and trade sanctions) it is expensive and not available all the time.
Old cake decorators swear by it for making the perfect flowers, but, like Sandra, I have used CMC (aka Tylose) to make flowers and have had no problems. CMC also holds up better in high humidity. I use CMC when I make figures and pieces for my cakes with no problems. CMC is merely the cheaper more affordable alternative the gum trag and it doesn't add colour to your paste, so you have a true white to add colour to.

Permalink Reply by Bettina Dwyer on September 15, 2012 at 9:59pm

Sandra CMC is just the abbreviation of carboxymethylcellulose. Tylose, or CMC, is one and the same thing.

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