Tamarind

Tamarind is the seed pods from the tamarind tree. It is widely used to provide a sweet and tart flavour to savoury meat and vegetable dishes and in drinks and deserts in South Asia. India is the top producer, growing tamarind in orchard-like plantations for domestic use and export.
Botanical watercolour of a tamarind branch with flowers and a seed pod.
Sweet and sour
Tamarind is the brown, tart flesh from the pods of a tree in the pea and bean family. The flesh surrounds the brown shiny seeds within the sausage-shaped pod. Pods are harvested at different stages of maturity according to their intended use.
Ice cream
Extracts from tamarind seeds are used as a stabilising agent in some ice creams.
Immune booster
Tamarind pods contain compounds which have recently been found to increase people's resistance to infections.
Attractive artwork
In Orissa, India, a gum is prepared from ground tamarind seeds and spread onto cloth to prepare a base for making traditional folk paintings. Tamarind plants are also used to make dyes, glue, polish carvings and buildings.