Tamarind

Tamarind is the fruit of the Tamarind tree, a tropical plant coming from the dry regions of Africa. In Madagascar, it is even considered as a sacred fruit and called "King of Trees". It’s a big clove made up of seeds, surrounded by a fibrous pulp. Its name comes from the Arabic word "tamar hindi" [Indian date]. It releases a pleasant acidic flavor.

Choose fruit with a thick clove.

Keep your pods in a dry and dark place at room temperature. After opening and if they are firmly wrapped, the fruit is good for 3 months or even longer in the freezer.

You can serve it in the Brazilian style: plain, after breaking the shell like a peanut. You can also use it in chutney as they do in Mauritius or add it to West Indian rum. You can also use it in fish dishes like in Senegal, Iran, or Mauritius.