Gelatin

 photography by: William Meppem

an organic substance derived from animal connective tissue found in bones, tendons, ligaments and cartilage, processed into brittle, transparent, colorless, odorless sheets (known as leaf gelatin), althoughit is also available in powdered form. gelatin is also extracted from certain algae, as is the case with agar-agar, carrageenan, gum tragacanth and Irish moss. Dissolved in water, gelatin swells and becomes and elastic, transparent mass. It's used in fruit drinks, in confectionery, to set mousses and jellies,a and in ice cream.