Does quillaia have a taste?
Quillaja as an acrid, astringent taste. Although quillaja is native to Chile and Peru, it is now widely cultivated in southern California. The inner bark is separated from the cork and collected for commercial use. Quillaja is very good for skin, and is also an excellent ingredient for dogs and cats. It is even included in some cat food products, and as an emulsifier in some beverage products consumed by people.
What is the use of Quillaja?
Quillaja saponins are widely used in food items such as flavoring agent, food additives and soft drinks. Quillaja saponaria Mol. Moreover, Mapuche people have used it for toothache relief and to treat inflammation, especially of the respiratory tract [49]. Furthermore, this tree has been used since precolonial times as a detergent. Then, its saponins are used as a foaming and emulsifying agent [50].