A process for preparing a carrier type starch which is characterized by the steps of mixing two starch portions having different gelatinization temperatures with water to form a slurry and causing gelatinization of the starch portion having the lower gelatinization temperature to thereby form a stable gelatinized carrier for the raw starch portion having the higher gelatinization temperature. The ratio of the starch portion having the lower gelatinization temperature to the starch portion having the higher gelatinization temperature is preferably of the order of from 1:10 to 1:4 and the ratio by weight of the starch portions to water is of the order of from 1:2 to 1:4, preferably about 1:3. A carrier type starch based adhesive comprising a mixture of a gelatinized carrier starch portion and a raw starch portion having a higher gelatinization temperature dispersed in the carrier portion is also disclosed.