Catechu is an extract of acacia trees used variously as a food additive ,astringent , tannin , and dye . It is extracted from several species of Acacia , but especially Senegalia catechu by boiling the wood in water and evaporating the resulting brew . It is also known as cutch , black cutch , Cachou , cashoo, khoyer and also Katha in Hindi .
Uses:
1. As an astringent
2. Paan masala and gutka
3. High in natural vegetable tannins
