Tannins Not Just for Quality Red Wine

Tannins, generally known for their role in making quality red wine, could also be beneficial for soils, forests and farmland, according to USDA researchers. A four-year project by the USDA Agricultureal Research Service has shown tannins to be important components of the agroecosystem that affect production and environmental quality. Tannins, which are common in many plants, enter the soil as a tea made from rain and melted snow that runs down tree bark or drips off of leaves. Read more.