So I've been using a mix of gum trag and fondant to make a gum-paste for figures. I usually just knead it in, and use immediately, now I hear that you're supposed to leave it sit overnight? What does this do? I would have thought that it would harden (obviously you wrap it) but does it really turn out better? 

Also, which works better for you? Gum trag or tylose? 

Thanks!

I'd also like to know about this after recently making my first lot of fondant discs for cupcakes using gum tragacanth, I also wasn't sure how hard they are meant to go!

Gum trag activates fully in those 24 hrs., along the lines of the way yeast activates in a bread dough during proofing.  You can bake bread before the yeast if fully activated, but it won't be as good as it could be.

Tylose is a more immediate product and doesn't require sitting time.

I know one well known decorator who makes a batch of tylose gum paste and a batch of gum trag gum paste, mixes them together, and swears that she gets the best of both worlds.  I've used the product & it's very nice.

As for me, I rarely plan ahead, so I often add tylose to my fondant and work away.  So far, knock wood, it works just fine for me that way.

Thank you very much for this! Yes, the yeast thing makes sense, do you know if the setting is actually any different, or is it just the malleability (I hope I've spelt that correctly) of the fondant? I hate to think that I've been wasting the product, gum trag is quite expensive in comparison to tylose. I'm scared to switch though! Fondant can be so iffy.. and I've had pretty good luck with the gum trag so far, I'll definitely give it a go at letting it 'activate' properly though