Tamarind

Plant Description

Tamarind is a multipurpose, perennial and evergreen tree which belongs to family Fabaceae and sub-family of Caselapinoideae. It is an evergreen, slow growing and perennial tree which could reach up to the height of 25 to 30 meters with trunk diameter of 30 to 50 to 90 cm. It thrives in various range of soil from deep alluvial soil to sandy soil, porous, oolitic limestone, and poor rocky land. It is resistant to drought and could be grown in semi-arid areas, salt tolerant and could also be found near the sea shores. The tree is sensitive to frost and young trees should be protected from cold. It needs dry period for good fruit set and frequent rains at the time of flowering and development of fruit.

It has rough, dark-grey and fissured bark. Leaves are pinnate, alternate, stipulate, petiolate and measures about 7.5 to 15 cm long. Each leaf have 10 to 20 pairs of oblong leaflets of 1.25 to 2.5 cm long and 5 to 6 mm wide with rounded base and entire margins. An inflorescence is lateral, lax and terminal racemes and measures about 13 cm long. The fragrant flowers are small and 3 cm long. Calyx tube is about 7 mm having four unequal lobes and five petals. Fruits are sub cylindrical pods which might be straight or irregularly curved having rounded ends and crustaceous and scurfy skin. The skin is cinnamon to brown or greyish to brown. Fruits measures about 15 cm long and 5 cm wide that bears ten flattened, shiny and brown seeds measuring about 1.1 to 1.25 cm long. Seeds are enclosed by parchment like membrane and entrenched in a juicy, thick, syrupy acidulous to sweetish pulp which changes to brown or reddish brown when ripened.

Tamarind tree has grayish to brown bark which is rough and scaly with both horizontal and vertical fissures. As the tree ages the fissures starts to deepen and darken. The bark of oldest trees on lower trunks falls away. The tree has ornate and contorted trunk provide pleasing appearance. The trunks have gray, brown or tan colors. The diameter of the trunk is 6 feet or more.

This evergreen tree bears pinnate and alternate leaves which measures four to 6 inches long and 1 ½ wide. It possesses petioles of 1 quarter inch long. Leaves have 10 to 17 pairs of opposite leaflets. It has rounded and asymmetric base and rounded to square apex. The entire blades are thin with delicate texture. It is light green and turns to darker blue to green when mature. It has slightly paler on lower surface.

The showy and small flowers bloom in spring. The flower buds are dark red in color. Flowers are arranged on terminal and lateral lax racemes. It possesses 4 pale yellow sepals of one half inches long. Petals are white and cream in color with red or brown veins. An upper 3 petals are well developed and lower 2 are minute.

The tree produces curvy and bean shaped fruit pods found all over the branches in abundance. The fruit is a legume which is also known as pod measuring 12 to 15 cm (4.7 to 5.9 inches) long with hard and brown outer shell. Fruit has juicy, deep brown, beaded, soft, fleshy and acidulous pulp. The pulp of the fruit inside the shell is held together by extensive fiber network which runs from pedicle to tip. Tamarind pulp possesses 3.1% protein, 20.6% water, 0.4% fat, 3.0% fiber, 70.8% carbohydrates and 2.1% ash. The pulp has low content of water and high content of protein, minerals and carbohydrates. The flesh has brown or reddish brown color. The fruit flesh contains 2 to 10 flattened, hard and glossy dark brown seeds. It has sweet and sour taste. It has high content of sugar, tartaric acid and Vitamin B. Pull the pod from stalk to harvest fruit. A mature tree produces up to 36 lb. (175 kg) of fruit in a year.

History

Tamarind is inherent to Tropical Africa and has been cultivated for long time in Indian subcontinent which is sometimes considered to be inherent there, where it is called imli in Urdu-Hindi. It is grown wild in Africa as diverse as Cameroon, Sudan, Tanzania and Nigeria. In Arabia, it is grown wild in Oman where it is grown on sea facing slopes of mountains. Through human transportation, it reached to South Asia and cultivated for several thousand years BC.

Tamarind got naturalized in over 50 countries worldwide. It is distributed widely in tropical belt from Africa to South Asia, Oceania, Northern Australia, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and China. India and Thailand are the major production areas in Asian countries and also found in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Thailand. Mexico and Costa Rica are the biggest producers in America. Gambia, Senegal, Zambia and Tanzania are the minor producing countries in Africa.

It was introduced to Mexico in 16th century and by Spanish and Portuguese colonists to South America to lesser degree that it became a major ingredient in region’s cuisine. Currently, India is considered to be highest producer of Tamarind. An intake of tamarind is widely spread due to its vital role in cuisines of Indian subcontinent, Americas and Southeast Asia.

Tamarind Varieties

There are many types of tamarind. Several produce fruits which are really sweet, with no slightest trace of sour. These types of fairly sweet types command a higher price in the market and therefore are sold in their ripened pods to be consumed fresh as fruits. The land of Petchaboon in northeastern Thailand is recognized for its sweet tamarind (makahm wahn). Every year, when the fruit comes into season throughout the dry months, a Sweet Tamarind Fair is held with many different celebrations and a lot of scrumptious tamarind to sample and take home. During this period of year, bags of the plump brown pods are peddled around by street hawkers in addition to piled amongst colorful fruits at fruit stands across the nation. The prized good-eating types even find the way into prepackaged gift baskets bought from modern Bangkok supermarkets, together with imported fruits, refined goods as well as chocolates.

More prevalent types create tart fruits that fluctuate from sweet-and-sour to mouth-puckering sour. The less sour ones – taken off their fragile pods as well as coated with a combination of salt, sugar and also smashed Chillies – really are a pleasure to chew. They wake up the mouth, have the juices flowing as well as momentarily satisfy thirst. Others are cooked in syrup with their seeds strained out making into candied tamarind. They’re perfect for the digestive tract and also have a moderate, natural laxative impact. In addition, tamarind is considered to get blood purifying qualities. Some of the varieties of tamarind are as follows:

• Africa

In Africa, tamarind are developed in exotic parts of Senegal and Kenya. These types of fruit trees may also be within the island nations of Madagascar and Zanzibar. However, tamarind usually are not indigenous to Madagascar, in accordance with the International Centre for Underfertilized Crops. The African nation of Malawi receives a tamarind a “bwemba” and helps to create “bwemba juice” from the tamarind fruit. In her native African environment tamarind medium trees can develop 40 to 80 feet in height, having a spread of approximately 35 meters. The majority of varieties trees generally develop to 25 meters tall and therefore are utilized for shade or even decorative reasons.

• Asia

Aside from India, tamarind grows in Asian countries for instance Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Turkey. Several Asian versions are Piyai, Jiahom as well as Sithong. The two states with the biggest tamarind farming are India and Thailand. These countries produce native or even cultivated Asian tamarind with either “sour” or “sweet” fruit. The majority of tamarind in Thailand are sweet, fruit mostly from the “Makhwam waan ‘variety, while in India the tamarind has sweet and sour fruit.

• Americas

The very first tamarind in America were introduced in Spanish and Portuguese within the 17th and 18 Century. South Florida and Hawaii include as the main places exactly where tamarind grown in USA. In Hawaii, the sour tamarind pulp are used as primary components for drinks, chutney, and curry. Central America as well as Caribbean Cultivators see tamarind as “tamarindo.” American cultivators make use of seed or even vegetation to spread the cultivation of tamarind. Tamarind seed made by planting the tree seeds in the ground, whilst vegetation grows tamarind by planting buds, shoots or cuttings from the fully developed tamarind.

• Manila

Despite the tree title, Manila tamarind (Pithecellobium dulce) isn’t a actual tamarind. However, the tamarind and Manila tamarind trees involve some resemblances. Both trees are usually having delicious fruit with white or red flesh for human consumption. Much like tamarind, Manila tamarind develop sweet or even sour fruits. Could also grow Manila tamarind in exotic climates and could be planted for decorative reasons. However, Manila tamarind indigenous to the coastal regions of Southern California, Mexico and South America, but aren’t native to Manila, Philippines.

Benefits

People have been using bark, roots and leaves of tamarind for centuries. The pulp of tamarind helps to cure sore throats, inflammations and conjunctivitis such as pink eye. Mix the pulp with salt which is effective liniment for rheumatism. The poultice prepared from flowers and leaves provide relief from sprains, swollen joints and boils. The ash prepared from tamarind fried with salts is useful for colic and digestion. Decoction could be made by boiling tamarind to extract chemicals and used to alleviate eye inflammations, asthma and gingivitis. It is also used for culinary purposes and added to curries, salads and stews.

• Prevent oxidative damage

The study concluded that pulp of tamarind is a natural health food that possesses antioxidant and hypocholesterolemia properties. The pulp promotes cholesterol efflux, increase uptake and clearance of LDL-C from peripheral tissues, inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis and suppress accumulation of triglyceride in liver. The observations show that pulp is effective for hypocholesterolemia conditions. Moreover, it also prevents the chances of oxidative damage such as oxidation of LDL-C which is a risk factor for atherosclerosis. These beneficial effects could be obtained from phytochemical constituents that include many phenolic and flavonoid compounds in fruit pulp. It also provides cholesterol lowering effect and prevents oxidative damage.

• Liver health

Study evaluated that the ameliorative effect of tamarind seed coat for high fat diet promote nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The treatment with seed coat of tamarind at dose levels weaken pathological alterations related with HFD induced NAFLD hepatomegaly, inflated lipid peroxides and hepatic lipid, free fatty acid levels, serum alanine aminotransferase and macro hepatic steatosis. The treatment from extract lowered body weight and adiposity with improvement in insulin resistance index.

• Prevent Bacteria

The aqueous and ethanoic extracts of fruit pulp, leaves, stem bark and tamarind evaluate antibacterial activity. The extracts of pulp exhibits extensive spectrum activity. Tamarind is used to treat various health ailments as well as enteric disturbances and high potency against pathogenic bacterial was obtained. In comparison to the stem bark extracts, fruit extracts showed better activity which is the part used by herbal practitioners. Moreover, bacterial strains were involved in enteric disturbances, sexually transmitted infections and food borne disease are the common diseases of concern in tropics. It concludes that the herb is used to treat ailments caused by these organisms.

• Slows down aging process

The study clarifies that seed extract of tamarind contains botanical antioxidants which displays antiaging activities when applied topically. The cosmetic of W/O emulsion packed with tamarind seed extracts is formulated to notice the increase in stratum corneum water contents. The increase in stratum corneum water content provide smooth look and prevents aging of skin.  The decrease in SELS parameters showed antioxidants found in formulation that contains seed extract with anti-wrinkle activities. Moreover, antioxidants in formulation showed non deleterious activities so this formulation is known to be economical and safe to manage wrinkles.

• Assist to lower weight

Results demonstrated that isolated trypsin inhibitor from tamarind can be used to lowering food consumption, an effect which be mediated by promoting cholecystokinin. The potential use of trypsin inhibitor is used to prevent obesity.

• Antioxidant activity

Oxidative stress aggravates diabetic type 1 and type 2 situations, but it contributes to destruction of beta cell in type 2 diabetes as insulin resistance of hyperglycemia. The control of glucose plays a vital role in antioxidant or pre-oxidant balance. Some antidiabetic agents include antioxidant properties independently to control the glucose.

• Anthelmintic activity

The study evaluated the anthelmintic activity of aqueous and ethanoic extract of bark and leaves of tamarind using Tubifex and Pheretima posthuma as test worms. The time of death and paralysis was studied and the activity was compared with piper zine citrate as reference standard. The aqueous and alcohol extract of tamarind bark present significant anthelmintic activity by lowering paralyzing time and death time. Results supported the use of tamarind as an anthelmintic activity.

• Lower oxidative stress

Tamarind is also called Asam Jawa which belongs to Leguminosae family. The seeds of tamarind possess high polyphenolic content.

• Skin health

Tamarind is helpful to maintain healthy skin. It effectively protects skin from ultraviolet damage caused by sun. It is traditionally used on face and skin to lower scars and acne. It possess alpha hydroxyl acid which acts as exfoliating agent to eliminate dead skin cells and also clears clogged pores.

Traditional Uses

• Candlenut is an important spice in Indonesian and Malaysian cuisine.
• The preparations of tamarind is used to treat fever, cold, diarrhea, stomach disorder, jaundice and also as skin cleanser.
• Combine pulp with honey, lime juice, spices or camphor and dates and use it to cure bile disorders and biliousness.
• Apply the pulp on inflammations and used it as a gargle for sore throat and mix it with salt for rheumatism.
• Pulp helps to restore the sensation in case of paralysis.
• To treat digestion and gastric problems.
• Make a paste of powdered seeds to treat boils or with cumin seeds and palm sugar for dysentery and diarrhea.
• Root infusion helps to treat chest complaints and also used as an ingredient in prescriptions for leprosy.
• Consume the roasted and soaked seeds to eliminate intestinal parasites.
• Use the poultice made from leaves and flowers either boiled or dried for sprains, swollen joints and boils.
• An extract is useful to treat dysentery, conjunctivitis, haemorrhoid, serysipelas and jaundice.
• In Philippines, herbal tea made from tamarind leaves are used to lower malaria fever.
• It is also helpful for colic and indigestion.
• A decoction is used as a cure for asthma, gingivitis and eye inflammations.
• Apply the poultice made from bark to caterpillar rashes and open sores.
• In Benin, seeds of tamarind are used for menses problems.
• In Popular Republic of Congo, leaves are used to treat chicken pox.
• In Niger, leaves of ripe tamarind are used to treat intestinal worms.
• In Central West Africa, leaves and bark are used to cure wounds.
• In Philippines, bark is used as a poultice for treating rashes, boils, ulcers and sores.
• The decoction made from bark is used for cough and gargle.
• In Senegal, leaves are used to treat ulcers and powdered bark is used to treat cough.
• In Uganda, decoction made from bark is used to cure uterine fibroids and root decoction is used for syphilis.
• Boil the leaves and use it as mouth wash to cure oral sores.
• Decoction made from root is used to cure epilepsy in Tanzania.
• In Ethiopia, crushed seeds are used to treat tapeworm.
• In Philippines, poultice prepared from flower is used as an aid for conjunctivitis and eye diseases.
• Use the flowers internally for piles and jaundice.
• It is used to cure bilious disorders.
• Leaves are used in herbal tea for lowering malaria fever.
• Gargle with dilute tamarind pulp for sore throat.
• The decoction prepared from tamarind leaves is used to cure ulcers and jaundice.
• Treat piles with the juice extracted from tamarind flowers.

How to Eat

• Fruit pulp is consumed fresh, raw or used as a condiment or spice in various food dishes and sauces.
• In Thailand, the pulp of the fruit is sold as dessert or snack fruit.
• In Southeast Asia, young pods are consumed with sweet shrimp sauce.
• Pickle young and green tamarinds and consume it as snacks like pickled mango. Dip it in the mixture of salt, crushed chilies and sugar.
• In India, immature sour pods are cooked as a seasoning with fish, rice and meats.
• In Asian and Latin American cuisines, the fruit pulp of tamarind is used as a spice or a vital ingredient in HP barbecue sauce and Worcestershire sauce.
• The pulp is also used in gravy dish, sauce or cooked with vegetables and lentils.
• Pickapeppa is a Jamaican sauce which consists of the mixture of onions, tomatoes, raisins, mangoes, other spices and tamarind.
• Tamarind is used as a vital ingredient in curries, chutneys and sauces.
• In South Indian diet, it is used to make Rasam which is the spicy preparation of onion, tomatoes, chillies, garlic, jiggery, tamarind, curry leaves, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, red chilli, peppercorns, cumin seeds and oil.
• A south indian rice preparation with tamarind is consumed as a snack.
• It is also used to add flavor to pulse dishes and rice dishes.
• In Singapore and Malaysia, tamarind is used to add unique and distinctive flavor to fish dishes.
• In East Malaysia, it is used in Sarawak laksa which is a type of rice noodle soup that contains sour tamarind, sambal belacan, galangal, garlic, coconut milk, lemon grass, topped with omelette strips, prawns, chicken strips, lime and fresh coriander.
• In Philippines, tamarind is used to add a sour taste to spicy sour soup which is prepared with tomato, tamarind, green pepper, onion, fish or meat.
• Tamarind is used to prepare jellies, manisan and syrup in Indonesia.
• Young pods are combined with rujak or pounded together with small fish.
• The salted pulp is made into balls which are known as asam kawak in Java.
• Confection could be prepared by sugaring tamarind pulp.
• It is used as a vital ingredient in Mexican candies known as pulparindo.
• The pulp could be turned into syrup and is used as a base to make carbonated water and refreshing drinks.
• It is also used to make ice cream and tamarind sherbet.
• Tamarind pulp is also used to make wine.
• In India, young leaves, flowers and seedlings are cooked and consumed as greens or added to curries.
• In Zimbabwe, leaves are added to soups and flowers are used as an ingredient in salads.
• In Andhra Pradesh, tamarind flowers are used to make tangy pickle.
• In Indonesia, young leaves are used to prepare pindang atep which is a spicy soup cooked with asem leaves, meat, salt, white onions and Lombok.
• In Timor, young shoots re combined with other lalab or consumed with salt and Lombok.
• In Madura and East Java, seed kernels are consumed after soaking in water for a day.
• It is used as an ingredient in India and South east asia in curries, chutneys, rasam, vegetable and lentil recipes.
• Prepare the juice from tamarind pulp by adding sugar, dates, cloves, cardamom and coriander seeds.

Precautions

• It could react with ibuprofen, aspirin, blood thinners, naproxen and anticoagulants.
• Excessively consumption promotes the chances of hypoglycemia.
• People might be hypersensitive to this fruit and could cause itching, rashes, shortness of breath and vomiting.
• Being highly acidic, it could damage the teeth when consumed excessively.
• It could result in gallstone formation.
• The people who have indigestion problems should not use tamarind because it could promote acid reflux.

Reference

• https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/tamarind/
• https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=26980#null
• https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54388/
• https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/tamarind.html
• https://www.curejoy.com/content/health-benefits-of-tamarind-fruit/