The rheological properties of tara gum, as affected by concentration, temperature, pH and the presence of
salts and sucrose, were investigated by using steady and dynamic shear measurements and atomic force
microscope observation. Tara gum exhibited non-Newtonian, pseudoplastic behaviour without thixotropy
at tested concentrations (0.2–1.0%, w/v). Salts (CaCl2 and NaCl) led to a viscosity reduction, which
was more sensitive to Ca2+ than to Na+. The gum had stable viscosity over a wide pH range (pH 3–11),
and the influence of sucrose was concentration dependent. Increasing temperature from 20 C to 80 C
decreased the gum viscosity. Frequency sweeps indicated that tara gum (1.0% w/v) behaved as a liquid
at low frequency, and acted more like a gel at high frequency. With the decrease of concentration, tara
gum may show a viscous property rather than an elastic one. These results are potentially useful for
the application of tara gum in food processing