the.com/tannins
the reason wine bites back and unripe fruit puckers your soul.
means tannins are bitter plant compounds that bind to proteins in your mouth, creating that dry, mouth-puckering sensation in wine, tea, and unripe fruit.
from named from the tanning of leather, since these same plant compounds were used for centuries to bind and toughen animal hides into leather.
leather linksame molecules once tanned actual cowhide
protein binderthey bond with saliva proteins, causing dryness
aging factorwine tannins soften and mellow over decades
plant defenseevolved to deter animals from eating leaves