To provide a roasted dextrin having special combination of comparatively high viscosity like British gum, 100% solubility in ambient water and solution stability like canary dextrin, and high hydration property at ambient temperature.

The roasted dextrin is substantially 100% soluble in water, and substantially hydratable in a solution which has low free water, at ambient temperature, has high viscosities corresponding to a canary dextrin and is solution stable. The dextrin is prepared by preferably acidifying the starch, and dextrinizing under substantially anhydrous conditions for a time and at a temperature sufficient to result in the desired end product.