Fruit of the tree |
One of my favorite fruits to forage while in the field is the fruit from the Tamarind tree. Not only is the fruit delicious but the tree is typically large and provides great shade. It also has a long fruiting period which means that you can depend on gathering the fruit for an extended period of time, not just the usual glut of fruits from most trees.
The fruit is a curved lumpy brown pod that has a very brittle shell. If you aren't careful while removing, it has a tendency to crack and become difficult to remove from the sticky innards. When removed the black seed is revealed, covered in a sticky and sour pulp. You can pop the seeds into your mouth and suck on the seeds until all the pulp is removed, then spit out the shiny hard seed. You can also make juice from tamarind, as well as paste to use in cooking.
I've only seen locals eat it straight from the fruit and for whatever reason it is mostly young children that consume it. We've made juice a few times though it's good to balance it with some sugar or honey. I do love to eat the fruit straight from the seed but it tends to burn my mouth if I have too much!
The fruit is a curved lumpy brown pod that has a very brittle shell. If you aren't careful while removing, it has a tendency to crack and become difficult to remove from the sticky innards. When removed the black seed is revealed, covered in a sticky and sour pulp. You can pop the seeds into your mouth and suck on the seeds until all the pulp is removed, then spit out the shiny hard seed. You can also make juice from tamarind, as well as paste to use in cooking.
I've only seen locals eat it straight from the fruit and for whatever reason it is mostly young children that consume it. We've made juice a few times though it's good to balance it with some sugar or honey. I do love to eat the fruit straight from the seed but it tends to burn my mouth if I have too much!
Nice specimen |
Pods on the tree |
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