Like many other fruits, tamarind is usually sweeter the more it has aged and ripened. Before ripening, it tends to have a more sour and tangy taste, similar to the tart citrus of a lime fruit but with the sweetness of a pineapple.
How can you tell if tamarind is sweet or sour?
Sour tamarind, or green, unripe tamarind, is the most tart and acidic. Ripe tamarind is brown, with a pleasantly strong sour taste. Sweet tamarind can be eaten straight from the pod.
Why is Thai tamarind sweet?
More About Tamarind Fruit
Tamarind snacks are normally sweet, because they are made of tamarind with added sugar or honey. Tamarind and sweet tamarind can be stored in the fridge for months. Tamarind is a natural laxative, like prunes.
What is tamarind in Thai?
Tamarind, known in Thai as “makaam“, is one of the most important ingredients in Thai cuisine. It is a staple in every Thai kitchen, and it plays a key role in popular dishes such as pad thai and papaya salad.
What does Thai tamarind sauce taste like?
Tamarind paste tastes very sour, with a somewhat citrusy taste. It does have notes of smoke and caramel as well, making for a complex flavor profile. It is thick, sticky, and resembles molasses.
Is Tamarindo supposed to be sour?
The taste of the tamarind fruit ranges from sweet and tangy to a sour and tarty flavour. The wide range in taste is owed to how ripe the tamarind is. The more mature and ripe the fruit is, the sweeter. However, the less ripe the Tamarind fruit is, the sourer it tastes.
What are the side effects of tamarind?
Tamarind might lower blood sugar levels. Taking tamarind along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
How many types of tamarind are there?
two
Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.)
There are two main types of tamarind: sour (the most common) and sweet (mostly comes from Thailand).
Is sweet tamarind good for health?
Tamarind is a rich source of magnesium. It also contains more calcium than many plant foods. The combination of these two minerals, plus weight-bearing exercise, could help prevent osteoporosis and bone fractures. The body requires vitamin D to use calcium.
Is sweet tamarind different from normal tamarind?
Sweet tamarind and sour tamarind are the same fruit, but a different stages of ripeness. You can eat tamarind at any ripeness, but the younger ones are more sour, while the older, more ripe tamarind is always sweeter, with a bit of a tang.
Which country produce sweet tamarind?
Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Cuba, St. Croix, Philippines and India are the major countries where manila tamarind or sweet tamarind is commonly grown.
Can you eat tamarind raw?
Tamarind is a popular sweet and sour fruit used worldwide. It has many beneficial nutrients. Two of the best ways to enjoy this fruit are to eat it raw or to use it as an ingredient in savory dishes.
Is Indian tamarind the same as Thai?
Sour tamarind is more commonly produced across the world and in India, while sweet tamarind primarily originates from Thailand. Despite this, both Thai and Indian cuisine typically use the sweet variety of tamarind in their respective recipes.
What does tamarind taste like?
The flavor of the tamarind fruit ranges from sweet and sour to tangy and tart. The flavor depends on how ripe the fruit is. The more it ripens, the sweeter it gets. Similar to tart citrus fruit, the flavor will also depend on what the fruit is mixed with.
Is tamarind Thai sauce spicy?
A tangy, salty, spicy, and barely sweet sauce to accentuate your grilled meats. Prepared tamarind can be a bit confusing to some people but it is actually quite simple. The flesh of the tamarind fruit, which is a bit dense and chewy, is mixed with water until it reaches the consistency of a puree.
What flavor is similar to tamarind?
Mango Chutney
Mangos have similar flavor notes that resemble tamarind. Therefore, even though they are on the sweeter side, when combined with other flavors they create a nice alternative to tamarind paste.
Does tamarind taste like chocolate?
Tamarind tastes similar to lime mixed with the sweetness of pineapple. Depending on the ripeness of the fruit, tamarind can have a very tart flavor.
Is all tamarind sour?
The taste of tamarind ranges from a sweet and sour to a tangy and tart flavor, often depending on the other ingredients it is mixed with. For example, sweet ingredients, like sugar, can take the edge off of sour tamarind flavors. Taste can also depend on how ripe the fruit is.
Should tamarind be refrigerated?
You can also store unopened tamarind paste in the spice cabinet, and then move it to the fridge or a cool place once is opened. If the jar you buy from the store says to refrigerate after opening or make your own at home, it is probably best to store it in the fridge.
Why are tamarinds so sour?
Tamarind is also known as tamarind and Indian date; tamarind is rich in tartaric acid and gives a tart, soft or sour flavour to dishes and beverages. Tartaric acid is an antioxidant due to which tamarind flavour is sour. Tartaric acid is also found in grapes and bananas, but not in citrus fruit.
Who should not take tamarind?
Using in amounts greater than those found in foods should be avoided until more is known. Diabetes: Tamarind might lower blood sugar levels. There is a concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control. If you have diabetes and use tamarind, monitor your blood sugar levels closely.