Tamarind

Hindi Name: Imli

Botanical name: Tamarindus indica L

Family name: Cesalpiniaceae

Commercial part: Pods

Literally meaning the Arabic tamr hindi or "date of India", this spice is originally from Eastern Africa, but now is being cultivated all over the tropics and is a much-valued food ingredient in many Asian or Latin American recipes. The fruit of a tropical tree, tamarind is an indispensable spice in most south Indian kitchens.

Tamarind is actually the fruit pod produced by tall, semi-evergreen tree grown primarily in India. The beans and pulp within the pod are virtually no smell, but is has an extremely sour taste. Tamarind is available in whole pods, a compressed block, paste or concentrates and is most likely to be found in Asian markets.

The pulp is sold dry and needs to be soaked before usage. Tamarind is taken as basis for spicy and sometimes sweet sauces used to marinade meat or soybean cheese before frying. In peninsular Southeast Asia (Vietnam and Thailand), the pods are preferred unripe and used in tart soups or stews. These cannot be dried without aroma change.

India is the only producer of tamarind on a commercial scale. A large part of India's production of tamarind is exported to West Asia, Europe and America, where it is used for food specialties like Worcestershire sauce. It is used as the equivalent to lemon juice in Indian cuisine, but is also used extensively in Asian cooking. It is often used to make juices, soups, chutneys and bean dishes.

Available in the form of pulp and juice concentrates it is used mainly for the preparation of cool drinks, seafood and a range of sophisticated cuisine. Fresh tamarind can be stored at room temperature, but should be used within a few days of purchase. Tamarind concentrate can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several months.