Tannin

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/tannin

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary chemical classes?Hydrolyzable tannins (gallotannins, ellagitannins) and Condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins)
2. What is the ecological function?Plant defense against herbivores and pathogens; influence on nutrient cycling
3. What are tannins and why do plants have them?Tannins are special chemicals made by plants that help protect them from animals and germs. They taste bitter and astringent, which makes animals less likely to eat the plant.
4. How do tannins help make leather?Tannins can stick to animal hide proteins, making the hide strong and water‑proof. This is how old people turned raw skins into durable leather.

Secondary Metabolites: Organic compounds produced by plants that are not directly involved in normal growth, development, or reproduction.
Polyphenols: A large group of plant-derived compounds characterized by multiple phenol units, known for antioxidant properties.
Bioavailability: The proportion of a nutrient or compound that is absorbed and utilized by the body.