Gum arabic is a dried exudate obtained from the stems and branches of Acacia senegal (L.) Willdenow or Acacia seyal (family Leguminosae). Gum arabic is a natural biopolymer, a branched-chain heteropolysaccharide, acidic or neutral. Gum arabic is a complex mixture of glycoproteins and polysaccharides. Gum arabic is readily soluble in cold water, insoluble in oils and in most organic solvents, but can be soluble in water-alcohol mixtures. Gum arabic is obtained from the resin of various types of acacia, which is crushed, cleaned and dried. According to the Codex Alimentarius, only gums produced from A. senegal and A. seyal can be officially classified as "gum arabic".