| Soap nuts (the natural detergent that actually is | | | | high concentration of saponin. Hence, it is the |
| found growing on trees) are not "nuts" (in this | | | | most prized and highest valued. The Florida |
| case you can take the term anyway you desire). | | | | soapberry for example is a soap nut, but it simply |
| They are actually a fruit most commonly referred | | | | doesn't work as well because its saponin |
| to as a soapberry. Now, that had to sound really | | | | concentration pales by comparison. Hence it is not |
| weird, huh? It's no wonder people are confused. I | | | | the same as others. So far, easy, right? |
| just referred to a detergent as a fruit, and a | | | | Secondly, the harvest and back to grapes: The |
| detergent growing on trees. Jugs and bottles | | | | growers are very precise as to when they |
| certainly don't grow on trees. And also, I certainly | | | | harvest. The grapes are checked daily. Only at |
| would not call wine a grape. Are you confused, | | | | their optimal point, depending on what the grower |
| yet? I would be. It is my hope that this article | | | | wants, are they harvested. Even a day can make |
| clarifies a great deal about what soap nuts | | | | a difference. Given that this is November, it is the |
| actually are. As your understanding grows, such | | | | perfect time of year to address this issue. To |
| seemingly stupid statements will actually begin to | | | | keep focus I will refer strictly to mukorossi |
| make sense. I've dedicated nearly a year | | | | harvests, albeit the fundamentals are the same |
| intensely studying soap nuts and their inherent | | | | for all. |
| properties. From lab test to standing in front of | | | | At this time of year (October/November |
| the washing machine, countless hours have been | | | | December) the soapberry is maturing on the |
| spent. As a large US importer and a product | | | | trees. From area to area and affected by the |
| formulator, that's my job. I hope my work will | | | | year's weather in the area, we will find soap nuts |
| save you precious time. | | | | at various stages in their development. We are |
| Again, soap nuts are a fruit. They produce a | | | | dealing with both wild and plantation grown soap |
| substance that is a natural detergent (or soap). It | | | | nuts. Last years harvest of soap nuts has |
| is called saponin. Sapo is actually Latin for soap. | | | | become dark and the shells have shrunk |
| There are numerous botanical sources for saponin. | | | | somewhat in size. Only if stored properly will they |
| What makes the soap nut so special is its | | | | still be dry (nut gummy or sticky). The new |
| extremely high concentration of saponin. It is the | | | | harvest is, of course, of highest demand and |
| saponin that is Mother Nature's own natural | | | | value. However, in the rush to bring newly |
| surfactant that effectively acts in the exact same | | | | harvested soap nuts to the market, many soap |
| way as a chemical detergent or soap. | | | | nuts are prematurely harvested. When |
| Important break: "What the heck is a surfactant?" | | | | prematurely harvested, soap nuts will be a bright |
| Excellent question! I'm so glad someone | | | | gold to yellow color, but also they will be typically |
| asked!sur-fac-tant n. A substance or agent, for | | | | small (often in the 2cm range as compared to a |
| example, a detergent or a drug, that reduces the | | | | mature soapberry at 4cm or larger). |
| surface tension of liquids so that the liquid spreads | | | | A mature soap nut will have reached its peak in |
| out, rather than collecting in the form of droplets. | | | | saponin content - the most important factor. |
| All detergents and soaps are essentially | | | | Hence, not only are the prematurely harvested |
| surfactants. It is surfactants that allow for the | | | | soap nuts wasteful in that another six to eight |
| break up of dirt, grime, oil, grease, etc. in water - | | | | weeks could produce a much more bountiful |
| and thus enables things to be washed and | | | | harvest. But also, they will not be of the quality of |
| become cleaned. It's really that simple. (There are | | | | a fully mature soap nut. Given drying and shipping |
| some minor exceptions but this is the KEY thing | | | | times, look for the best quality newly harvested |
| to realize about how detergents and soaps work.) | | | | soap nuts to begin showing up in the US in late |
| It is just the fact that most surfactants - that | | | | December, January and February. Properly stored |
| we know of - have come out of chemical labs | | | | soap nuts from last year's harvest will be the |
| rather than grown by Mother Nature. I assure you | | | | better choice. If the soap nuts are very dark, |
| they are not picking fruit at Procter and Gamble. | | | | gummy and sticky (as is often the case at this |
| At least not when making detergent. I bet this is | | | | time), they have not been stored properly. Hence, |
| beginning to make sense. | | | | look elsewhere for the best quality - regardless of |
| Somewhere throughout the ages people started | | | | time of year. |
| calling the dried soapberries "nuts". Why? Because | | | | Thirdly, the results of inexperience: Most sellers of |
| they feel and look more like a nut than anything | | | | soap nuts know little more than the average user. |
| else. They are hard and dry (when they are | | | | Soap nuts are so new to the US and western |
| ready for use) and even a nut-like color. If you | | | | hemisphere in general, that many sellers are selling |
| picked one up off the ground, your first guess | | | | only due to the fact that there is a market. |
| would be: "some kind of nut." So, there you go. | | | | Whenever there is a market, there will be sellers |
| The rest is history. When growing on the tree, | | | | (and, of course, buyers). It is a caveat emptor |
| soap nuts remind me most of a cherry given | | | | (buyer beware) scenario. The quality of product |
| their large seed size relative to its pulp and skin. | | | | the buyer receives is largely a function of the |
| As they are dried in the sun, they become | | | | questions the buyers ask. Therefore, ASK |
| wrinkled and then look reminiscent of a date or an | | | | QUESTIONS. Ask about the species, quality, |
| overgrown (big time) raisin - just drier and harder. | | | | condition, color and size. Don't get too hung up on |
| During their first couple months they will be | | | | age. The shelf life of soap nuts is very long if |
| yellowish to golden in color. As they age they will | | | | properly stored and maintained. Again, ASK. |
| redden in color. As time continues, they will simply | | | | Request representative samples if making a large |
| darken and shrink a bit in size. If properly stored | | | | purchase. Moisture build up, often due to |
| in a cool dry environment they can last for years. | | | | condensation, is probably the leading causes for |
| As with nearly all dried natural or organic fruits, | | | | inferior quality soap nuts to come on the market. |
| vegetables, etc., if they are not stored properly | | | | Be wary if you think they have been being stored |
| and allowed to become moist they will blacken | | | | in a garage somewhere (a common scenario). If |
| and even grow molds. I would not recommend | | | | you don't get good answers, look for another |
| them at that point. (So much for common sense.) | | | | seller. Be cautious of cheap prices without good, |
| Again, it is the soap nuts' remarkable ability to | | | | logical reasons. Improperly stored soap nuts are |
| produce saponin (that natural soap) in high levels | | | | getting bad at this time. Sellers will "fire sale" them. |
| that makes them so incredibly special - the ideal | | | | You typically get what you pay for. |
| natural detergent, soap and cleaner. As a | | | | Lastly, bottom of the barrel hunting: The two |
| consumer, you receive them as simply the dried | | | | main varieties that are being sold in the US are |
| fruits with their seeds removed (usually). | | | | Sapindus Mukorossi and Sapindus Trifoliatus. Both |
| However, as an apple is not just an apple, or a | | | | grow in relatively close proximity, particularly in |
| grape is not just a grape, a soap nut is not just a | | | | India. The trifoliatus variety is smaller and less |
| soap nut. Do you think a vineyard cares about | | | | effective. They are not as highly valued. Mixing |
| the type and quality of the grapes they grow? | | | | the varieties is a very common practice among |
| You bet - big time. If all is not right, a year's | | | | harvesters and exporters. Not even those that |
| harvest could become worthless. Now, the grape | | | | are very familiar with soap nuts can immediately |
| is probably the most extreme example that I can | | | | identify the difference. Important note: A large |
| think of to make my point. Such is the beauty of | | | | amount of soap nuts are pre-packaged overseas |
| extremes - the fundamentals are made easy to | | | | for retail in the US to save on labor costs. (This |
| understand. It's such fundamentals that we are | | | | "note" is worthy of its own article, so I will just |
| going to apply to soap nuts. | | | | drop it here.) Hence, not even most US and |
| Note: The purpose of this article is also to provide | | | | Canadian sellers can inspect them carefully. |
| some additional fundamentals about soap nuts | | | | NaturOli, is an exception since the final packaging |
| that may lead to even better personal | | | | in done in the US. Soap nuts shipped by NaturOli |
| experiences, and also to assist you in becoming a | | | | have been hand inspected within only weeks of |
| more informed consumer or seller. | | | | sale. |
| Firstly, the type, variety and strain: As with | | | | So, the bottom line: You need not be a |
| grapes, they run the gamut. A vineyard is | | | | connoisseur (as a wine master) to find quality |
| extremely particular regarding the grapes they | | | | soap nuts. The very simple, and even common |
| grow. Different grapes will produce different | | | | sense, knowledge shared in this article should help |
| wines. With soap nuts, we don't need to go to | | | | you to make much better decisions. Be you a |
| that extreme for one reason: There is no culinary | | | | newbie or veteran to soap nuts, you want a good |
| aspect to deal with. The value of a soap nut | | | | experience - and the most value for your money. |
| distills (pun intended) down to one thing - saponin. | | | | Reliable quality and saponin content will ultimately |
| 100% pure saponin (other than the extraction | | | | lead to increased affordability. You will never again |
| process that can result in significantly different | | | | need to rewash a load, or use more soap nuts |
| results and qualities) has no variables. It is what it | | | | than required. A little knowledge goes a long, long |
| is. It is the concentration of saponin that we must | | | | way. |
| concern ourselves with. From species to species in | | | | Understanding that soap nuts are Mother Nature's |
| the Sapindus tree family that grows across the | | | | fruits - not lab produced products - is the most |
| globe, the soap nuts vary greatly. Without going | | | | critical aspect of being a good user and consumer |
| into the many, many varieties in detail (that's | | | | of them. If you think of soap nuts as a fruit - be |
| another long article), the fact is that the | | | | it a grape, cherry, or apple - you are half way |
| mukorossi variety contains the most consistently | | | | home. |