A method is provided for recovering arabinogalactan from fibrous natural plant material, such as wood from larch trees, said method being a continuous two-step extraction with enrichment method (i.e. counter current extraction) in which preferably water is employed as a solvent. In the counter current process of the invention the fresh solvent initially contacts plant material from which the greater part of the arabinogalactan has been leached and, subsequently, the resulting solution containing the lowest concentration of arabinogalactan contacts the freshest plant material