38200 Catechou, from Kremer. 100g plastic bag

Catechu (also known as cachou, cutch, cashoo or Japan earth) is an extract of any several species of Acacia by boiling water and evaporating the resulting brew.

Catechu (called katha in Hindi, kachu in Malay, hence Latin Acacia catechu as the type species which provides the extract) is an astringent and has been used since ancient times in Ayurvedic medicine as well as in breath-freshening spice mixtures.

The mixture is high in natural vegetable tannins (which accounts for its astringent effect), and may be used for the tanning of animal hides. Early research by Sir Humphrey Davy in the early 19th century first demonstrated the use of the catechu in tanning over more expensive and traditional oak extracts.