Catechin binds strongly to both poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and poly(L-proline) in dilute aqueous solution, inducing a collapse of the more flexible poly(vinylpyrrolidone) chains, but forming a microgel with the more extended poly(L-proline) chains. Low concentrations of poly(L-proline) inhibit the discoloration of aqueous solutions of catechin, thereby implicating the ortho hydroxyyl groups in the catechol moiety in the binding process. Modeling shows that the likely binding sites on poly(L-proline) arise from two minor local conformations. These minor conformations are less frequent in poly(gamma-hydroxy-L-proline) than in poly(L-proline), which may explain why catechin interacts more strongly with poly(L-proline) than with poly(gamma-hydroxy-L-proline).