Botanical Name: Acacia Catechu

Catechu is an extract of acacia trees used variously as a food additive, astringent, tannin, and dye. The catechu mixture is high in natural vegetable tannins (which accounts for its astringent effect),

The main colouring component of this is catechin. Cutch is an important historical brown dye that comes from the heartwood of the cutch tree (Acacia catechu). This colour was produced by steeping the wood into hot water until a syrupy liquid immerses. It has high light fastness and wash fastness as well as being inexpensive. Cutch is a very rich source of tannins and excellent dye for cottons, it is also suitable for dyeing wool, silk, and cotton a yellowish-brown. Cutch gives gray-browns with an iron mordant and olive-browns with a copper mordant.