Question

Which of the following plants is used for making Kaththa?
A) Acacia arabica
B) Acacia Catechu
C) Acacia senegal
D) Laccifer lacca

Answer 1

Hint: Catechu is an acacia tree extract that is used as a food ingredient, astringent, tannin, and colouring, among other things. It is obtained by boiling the wood in water and then evaporating the resulting brew from numerous Acacia species, particularly Senegalia catechu.

Complete answer:
Catechu is an acacia tree extract that is used as a food ingredient, astringent, tannin, and colouring, among other things. It is obtained by boiling the wood in water and then evaporating the resulting brew from numerous Acacia species, particularly Senegalia catechu (Acacia catechu). Cutch, black cutch, cachou, cashoo, terra Japonica, or Japan soil are some of its other names. It's also known as katha in Hindi, kaath in Marathi, khoyer in Assamese and Bengali, and kachu in Malay.

Let us look at the given options:
A) Acacia arabica: This option is incorrect because kathatha is not catechu and is not extracted through Acacia arabica. Acacia arabica has been shown to be a helpful cure for malaria, as well as sore throat (aerial part) and toothache (bark).
B) Acacia Catechu: This is the correct answer. Catechu is made from a variety of Acacia species, but particularly Acacia catechu, by boiling the wood in water and then evaporating the resulting brew.
C) Acacia Senegal: This option is incorrect because it is not used for catechu. Senegal Acacia Gum, often known as gum arabic, is a white powder. Acacia-derived compounds are utilised in the formulation of skin care, hair care, makeup, and bath products in cosmetics and personal care goods.
D) Laccifer lacca: This option is incorrect because it is a lac bug species belonging to the Kerriidae family. Scale insects belong to the Coccoidea superfamily.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B.

Note: Acacia catechu is a deciduous tree with a light feathery crown and slender, thorny, shiny branchlets that are generally twisted. Bark is dark brown or dark grey on the outside, brown or red on the inside, almost 12-15 mm thick, tough, and exfoliates in long thin rectangular flakes that often hang. Blazed ferociously, turning brown and then deep pink.