A Super Cool Fact About Tannins
Here's a kind of gross, but super cool fact for you about....TANNINS!
What are tannins?
Tannins create the drying sensation, like cotton-ball-mouth, that red wine gives you. Why? Because tannins bind to protein. Soooo they bind with the protein in your saliva and make your mouth less saliva-y, therefore, less slippery. 😝
However…
if you have a different type of protein in your mouth—like a steak or a really fatty cheese—then the tannins will bind with those proteins instead of the proteins in your saliva. 🤯🤯🤯
This has a two-fold effect:
It helps break down the meat or cheese making it more tender.
It keeps all your mouth-saliva where it should be, keeping your mouth slippery and smooth, and preventing that cotton ball, sandpaper-like sensation.
Crazy, right?!
So, next time you are drinking red wine with steak, I am looking forward to you entertaining the table with this fascinating fact. Let me know how it goes over. For real, send me updates on the spread of wine knowledge! ;)