Please, if you know this, and would answer me, I would really appreciate it. I have been looking for Gum Tragacanth, and have to say it is pricey. Doing a further search, Tylose Powder keeps coming up as a Gum Tragacanth substitute. Is this true? I want to make mexican paste for intricate butterflies, but want the paste to set really well and look good after cutting.

Any help is appreciated, and thanks in advance.

Sonya

Hi, made this paste couple weeks ago. I also used it to make butterflies. Got the recipe from globalsugarart.com. Alan shows on youtube how to make this using bag of ingredients and you just add water. I also used some of Nick Lodges g/p recipe. That was easier than the mexican paste. Nick uses his g/p recipe for patchwork cutters. Don,t know what cutters you are using. Alan shows how to make butterflies and how to make them stronger, so they won,t break. I used his method. He is a great teacher. Again, i use Marion Frost recipe for the paste. I am sending you some links.hth

Yes you can substitute Tylose for Gum Trag , it makes little difference . I have used both for Mexican paste . If you use boiling water with the Tylose you don't have to leave it overnight to use the mexican paste either.

Thanks so much to both of you, appreciate it. BTW, I have also been watching all the vids on youtube and saw the one with the just add water mix. Appreciate the quick response.

CMC and Tylose are the same thing. Tylose is the name English decorators call CMC. Tragicanth is a natural ingredient that is found in a shrub grown in the rain forest. That's why it's so expensive. I use CMC all the time, with great results.

The main difference with tylose/cmc & gum trag is that the reaction of tylose/cmc is basically immediate, whereas to get the same result with gum trag, the product needs to sit for at least 12 hrs.after having the gum trag kneaded into it.

Gum trag also seems to create a "fluffiier" product, I don't know why, but it seems smoother & silkier.

Gum trag also expires, The older it is, the less strong.

Rae