Tannin,
a history close
to your own
The history of tannin has very ancient origins. Before the discovery of the tanning process, Men already knew about his existence.
Their hunter-gatherer activity could guarantee a diet containing varieties of berries, fruits and roots naturally rich in tannin, a powerful antioxidant, which contributed significantly to the equilibrium of the gut flora.
For this reason, nowadays, reintroducing tannins back in our diet, for example through the intake of pomegranate extracts or natural tannins in wine and tea, can be the source of important supplements for human health.
Although no one can be sure of it, it is very likely that our meeting with tannin was empirical or completely coincidental.
An intuition that led to the birth of a process indispensable to the evolution of human civilization: vegetable tanning.
Leather was used as harness for horses and working animals, sandals, belts, saddle bags, quivers, accessories for weapons including shields and armors, book covers. It was also a material to be found in industrial machines and even in XX century tanks.
Prehistory and Tannin
Vegetable Tanning in Ancient History
Tannin in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance
Tannin and the Plants of the New World
1796: the term “Tannin” is Born
The Industrial Revolution and the Invention of the Drum
The tannin between the two wars
Tannin in the Twentieth Century
Vegetable Tanning
Today, tannin is used successfully in a variety of applications. But it continues to be the undisputed protagonist of the vegetable tanning process, an ancient artisan tradition that still today is based on the same methods used during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. A process able to provide high quality leather, that can last over time.