Pyrolysis-gas chromatography was used for identification of natural gum types (gum, arabic, ghatti, guar, karaya, and tragacanth). Regardless of chemical and structural similarities between different gum types, the identification of gum based on manual or computer aided pyrogram matching of peak and intensity patterns is possible. Identification of gums is feasible from samples as small as 1 mug. Pyrolysis at lower temperatures (400°C) provide a better match between analytical results obtained from analysis of pure gums and gum-pigment mixtures.