Tamarind

The fruits of the tamarind can be sweet our sour, depending on the variety. Legend says that sleeping under a tamarind tree while it flowers will give you strange dreams ! This page provides basic information and photos of the tamarind tree.

Scientific name:	Tamarindus indica L.
Family:	Fabaceae
Common names:	Tamarind
Origin:	Eastern Africa and Madagascar
Distribution:	Eastern Africa and tropical areas in Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Evergreen or deciduous:	Evergeen in areas without a dry season. In dry areas during the hot season the leaves may be shed.
Flowers:	Clusters of flowers growing from one common stem
Leaves:	Fine feathery foliage. Tamarind leaves consist of 10-40 leaflets
Fruits:	The tamarind fruit is a brown pod-like legume. Inside the pod are many hard-coated seeds covered with a brown soft pulp, which is the edible part.
Climate and weather:	Tropical areas. Dry weather is important during the period of fruit development.
Pollination:	Probably by insects (?).
Height:	20 meter (but can reach over 25 meter)
Crown size:	The crown can be up to 12 meter
Type of soil:	Tolerates almost any soil.
Growth rate:	Tamarind is a slow growing tree.
Spacing (close range)	5 meter
Spacing (wide range)	8 meter
Insect pests:	Various scales. Mealybugs. Fruit borers.
Diseases:	?
Harvesting:	Harvesting by hand picking.
Uses:	The fruit pulp is edible. Pulp of young fruits is sour and acidic, but ripe fruits are sweeter. Some varieties are sweet, while others have always a sour taste. Young leaves can be used in salads.

Photos

Proverbs and quotes about Tamarind

• The summer dream beneath the tamarind tree (Edgar Allan Poe)

Did you know that?

• Legend says that those who sleep under the Tamarind while it flowers will experience strange hallucinogenic dreams !

Who helps me find more proverbs or quotes or other things worth knowing about tamarind? Please send me a message.

Recipes

No tamarind recipe yet. Can you help me with a recipe that contains tamarind?