The tanning properties of Quebracho Colorado were discovered by Emilio Poisier, a french tanner living in Argentina, in 1867. By 1895 Quebracho extracts were already being exported to Europe and a few decades later they became the most widely used vegetable tanning extract. During the last decades of the 20th century, research about tannins and their alternative uses introduced Quebracho extracts into a growing number of applications.

The name Quebracho comes from the Spanish expression “quiebra hacha” (that means axe-breaker) because of the exceptional wood hardness. Quebracho extracts are a complex blend of poliphenols prepared from the heart wood of Quebracho Colorado trees which only grow in South America in the geographical area called Chaco, which covers Northern Argentina and Paraguay.
 
These poliphenols extracted from the heartwood of Quebracho Colorado trees, are natural compounds that have the following characteristics:

• Catequinic origin (thus they belong to the commonly known condensed tannins family).
• A wide range of fractions with different molecular weights (from 200 up to 15000) which can be selected or chemically reacted according with the intended final use.
• Presence of an important quantity of trimers and tetramers of C15 polymers with a great quantity of hydroxylic (–OH) groups that allows an important level of reactivity.
• Low concentration of sugars and acids.
• High stability to hydrolysis and microorganisms.
 
These remarkably versatile characteristics allow for the extracts to be transformed and enhanced through diverse processes that generate a range of products with specific properties suitable for several different industries.

UNITAN complies with all existing forestal regulations and grows 500.000 seedlings of Quebracho Colorado per year in its own nurseries thus preserving this natural source and the environment.

UNITAN owns two factories producing Quebracho Colorado extracts in full activity, located in the North of Argentina with a century of experience and tradition producing natural extracts. Thus contributing to the needed supply of sustainable natural products for a growing number of applications through a process of preservation, growth, production, research and technical support.

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