tamarind

Tangy tropical fruit

Tamarind is a tropical tree and its edible fruit—brown pods containing a sticky, sour-sweet pulp surrounding large seeds.

The pulp flavors drinks, candies, chutneys, and sauces across Asian, African, Latin American, and Caribbean cuisines: pad thai gets its tang from tamarind, tamarind candy.

The sourness mellows when cooked, leaving a complex fruity depth.

pod

pulp

Soft wet mass

shell · brittle · brown · stringy · husk · fleshy · segmented · pericarp · vein · ripe

culinary

chutney

Spiced fruit-based condiment

  • curryAromatic South Asian dish
  • pad thaiSoutheast Asian stir-fried noodles
  • sambarSouth Indian vegetable broth

sauce · paste · marinade · glaze · agua fresca · vindaloo · concentrate · soup · candy · drink

flavor

sour

Sharp, biting taste

  • tangySharp and lively-tasting
  • tartSharp-flavored small pie
  • acidicBelow neutral pH

pungent · zesty · sharp · astringent · piquant · citrusy · vinegary · pucker · bracing · tartness

tree

tropical

Of hot, humid regions

ornamental · drought-tolerant · canopy · bark · leaves · branches · pods · flowering · hardy · resilient

color

brown

Dark earth tone

caramel · amber · chocolate · dark · henna · umber · copper · russet · chestnut

Categories
Opposites
flavor profile

tamarindsugar

Crystalline carbohydrate sweetener

honey · maple syrup · molasses · agave · stevia

botanical/fruit category

tamarindorange

Citrus with segments

lemon · lime · grapefruit · citrus · apple

Phrases
Family

tamarin, tamarisk, tamarinds, tamarindo

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G