Tamarind is a part of the pea and legume household Fabaceae and is thought by the scientific title Tamarindus indica. The tamarind tree is native to tropical Africa and Asia, however is cultivated throughout India, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
It’s stated tamarind bushes had been launched to Australia through Makassar merchants within the early 18th century and there are actually a number of native species grown throughout sub-tropical areas on Australia’s east coast together with the large-leaved tamarind (Diploglottis australis) and small-leaved tamarind (Diploglottis campbellii, nonetheless they’re not associated to the African and Asian species.
Development and harvest
Tamarind bushes are very resilient and may stand up to drought and wind-borne salt present in areas positioned close to coastlines. The bushes thrive in tropical and subtropical areas and ought to be uncovered to dry climate when younger to construct tolerance towards frosts and funky temperatures.
Tamarind bushes may be grown through grafting or seeds which have to be soaked for a couple of days earlier than being transferred into free-draining soil. Germination takes one to 2 weeks in a heat, sunny setting with frequently watering.
Tamarind bushes develop as much as 25 metres in peak and have wide-spanning branches that fall in direction of the bottom in a curved form. The bushes have dense, evergreen, feather-like leaves which might be about 5cm or much less in size. Purple and yellow flowers about 2.5cm in measurement develop on bushes in small clusters.Brown tamarind pods are pea-like in form and develop as much as 15cm in size and a couple of.5cm in width. Every pod accommodates as much as 12 tamarind seeds which might be coated in a tender, brown pulp which darkens because it ripens.
Flavour and culinary makes use of
Tamarind pulp has a sweet-sour flavour and can be utilized ripe or unripe. Unripe, the pulp could be very tart and must be cooked or pickled earlier than being consumed. It’s usually used chutneys, stews, curries, soups, or sweets the place it offers an acidic kick. As tamarind ripens, its sourness reduces and is akin to a mix of date, lemon, and apricot. Ripened tamarind is bought in complete pod type in addition to a paste, focus, extract, and powder.
One among its most typical purposes is in pad Thai the place it’s mixed with fish sauce, sugar, and vinegar. It’s additionally a core ingredient of Worcestershire sauce and is a pure meat tenderiser due to tartaric acid. Tamarind is a core ingredient to flavour curries and different spicy dishes and is famously used within the Mexican dessert mangonada, which options straw-shaped tamarind garnishes known as tarugos.
