Pectin

Pectin is a natural, water-soluble carbohydrate (polysaccharide) found in plant cell walls, acting as a binder that gives structure to fruits; it’s extracted commercially from citrus peels and apples to serve as a crucial gelling, thickening, and stabilizing agent for jams, jellies, dairy, and baked goods, forming gels with sugar and acid, and breaking down as fruit ripens.