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A Soap Nut is not Just a Soap Nut!

Soap nuts are a fruit. It is their remarkable ability to produce a natural soap that makes them so special - an ideal natural detergent and cleaner. As a consumer, you receive them as simply the dried fruits with their seeds removed (usually). However, as an apple is not just an apple, or a grape is not just a grape, a soap nut is not just a soap nut. Do you think a vineyard cares about the type and quality of the grapes they grow? You bet - big time. If all is not right, a year's harvest could become worthless. Now, the grape is probably the most extreme example I can think of to make my point. Such is the beauty of extremes - the fundamentals are made easy to understand. It's such fundamentals that we are going to apply to soap nuts. The purpose of this article is to simply provide some basics about soap nuts that may lead to even better experiences, and also to assist you in becoming a more informed consumer.

Firstly, the type, variety and strain: As with grapes, they run from a to z. A vineyard is extremely particular regarding the grapes they grow. Different grapes will produce different wines. With soap nuts, we don't need to go to that extreme for one reason: There is no culinary aspect to deal with. The value of a soap nut distills (pun intended) down to one thing - saponin. 100% pure saponin (other than the extraction process) has no variables. It is what it is. It is the concentration of saponin that we must concern ourselves with. From species to species in the Sapindus tree family that grows across the globe, the soap nuts vary greatly. Without going into the many, many varieties in detail (that's another long article), the fact is that the mukorossi variety contains the most consistently high concentration of saponin. Hence, it is the most prized and highest valued. The Florida soapberry for example is a soap nut, but it simply doesn't work as well because its saponin concentration pales by comparison. Hence it is not the same as others. So far, easy, right?

Secondly, the harvest and back to grapes: The growers are very precise as to when they harvest. The grapes are checked daily. Only at their optimal point, depending on what the grower wants, are they harvested. Even a day can make a difference. Given that this is November, it is the perfect time of year to address this issue. To keep focus I will refer strictly to mukorossi harvests, albeit the fundaments are the same for all.

At this time of year the soapberry is maturing on the trees. From area to area and affected by the years weather in the area, we will find soap nuts at various stages in their development. We are dealing with both wild and plantation grown soap nuts. Last years harvest of soap nuts has become very dark and the shells have shrunk in size. Only if stored properly will they still be dry (nut gummy or sticky). The new harvest is of highest demand and value. However, in the rush to bring newly harvested soap nuts to the market, many soap nuts are prematurely harvested. When prematurely harvested, soap nuts will be a golden to yellow color, but also they will be small (often in the 2cm range as compared to a mature soapberry at 4cm or larger). A mature soap nut will have reached its peak in saponin content - the most important factor. Hence, not only are the prematurely harvested soap nuts wasteful in that another six weeks could produce a much higher quality soap nut. But also, they will not be of the quality of a fully mature soap nut. Given drying and shipping times, look for the best quality newly harvested soap nuts to begin showing up in the US in late December and January. Properly stored soap nuts from last years harvest will be the better choice. If the soap nuts are very dark, gummy and sticky (as is often the case at this time), they have not been stored properly. NaturOli is the only company I know of that does a final sort before packaging for retail. Hence look there for the best quality - regardless of time of year.

Thirdly, the results of inexperience: Most sellers of soap nuts know little more than the average user. Soap nuts are so new to the US and western hemisphere in general, that many sellers are selling only due to the fact that there is a market. Whenever there is a market, there will be sellers (and of course buyers). It is a caveat emptor (buyer beware) scenario. The quality of product the buyer receives is largely a function of the questions the buyers ask. Therefore, ASK QUESTIONS. Ask about the species, quality, condition, color and size. Don't get too hung up on age. The shelf life of soap nuts is very long if properly stored and maintained. ASK. If you don't get good answers, look for another seller. Above all, be cautious of cheap prices. Improperly stored soap nuts are getting bad at this time. Sellers will "fire sale" them. You typically get what you pay for.

Lastly, bottom of the barrel hunting. The two main varieties that are being sold in the US are Sapindus Mukorossi and Sapindus Trifoliatus. Both grow in relatively close proximity, particularly in India. The trifoliatus variety is smaller and less effective. They are not as highly valued. Mixing the varieties is a very common practice among harvesters and exporters. Not even those that are very familiar with soap nuts can immediately identify the difference. NOTE: A large amount of soap nuts are pre-packaged overseas for retail in the US to save on labor costs. (That note is worthy of its own article, so I will drop it here.) Hence, not even the US and Canadian sellers can inspect them carefully. Again, NaturOli, is an exception. Soap nuts shipped by NaturOli have been hand inspected within only weeks of order. Only the best quality is chosen for "select" grade quality. NaturOli uses all the less than "select" quality shells for saponin extraction. Therefore no soap nuts go to waste - another green effort in the NaturOli business model.

So, the bottom line: You need not be a connoisseur (as a wine master) to find quality soap nuts. The very simple, and even common sense, knowledge shared above should help you to make better decisions. Be you a newbie or veteran to soap nuts, you want a good experience - and the most value for your money. Reliable quality and saponin content will ultimately lead to increased affordability. You will never again need to rewash a load, or use more soap nuts than required. A little knowledge goes a long way.

Understanding that soap nuts are Mother Nature's fruits - not lab produced products - is the imperative. If you think of soap nuts as a fruit - be it a grape, cherry, apple or orange - you are half way to being a better soap nut consumer. Nature's fundamentals are at least consistent: There are very few "always" in nature’s ways. The only "always" is our need to use our heads and think.

Good luck and happy washing!

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