Fruit of the Week: Tamarind

Name: Tamarind

Brand: Caravelle

Place of Purchase: Jung's Asian Market, Des Moines, IA

Country/Region of Origin: Thailand

Price in Iowa: $4.98/lb.

Description: It looks like a big, brown, woody pea pod. I could use another description, but it wouldn't be appetizing.

Flavor: Delicately sweet. Nutty. Woody. There is also a unique tang to the tamarind that makes it so desirable for many Asian and Latin American dishes. The variety I bought are the "sweet" tamarinds. There are sour varieties, as well, which are less ripe.

Aroma: wood and earth notes

Texture/Mouth-feel: Once you get the pod open and remove the vascular tissues, what is left is a thick pulp the consistency of fudge. You need to break off a piece of the pulp, pop it in your mouth, and work the seed(s) away from the pulp. Be sure to eat the delicate seed coat before you spit out the seeds. Where the pulp has a sweet-tangy-woody flavor, the seed coat is sweet and nutty.

Notes: I enjoy foods that kep your hands busy. Unshelled peanuts and pistachios can keep me happy for hours, and I'll eat a more modest portion than I would with the shelled variety. Tamarind falls into that category. First you need to remove the outer shell. Then you need to pull out the woody veins. After than, you need to work the seeds away from the pulp inside your mouth, and shave off the seed coat with your teeth. I ate two tamarinds in 20 minutes. Where I would have eaten the equivalent of 5-10 tamarinds if I was eating tamarind chutney or candy. They're a fun food, and very flavorful. In most of the civilzed world, tamarind is used in candy, beverage or sauce. Even here in the US, tamarind flavors are added to several condiments. Buy a box (they're cheap) and share them with family or friends. Just remember to lay down some napkins or paper towels to catch your shells and seeds.